As the agents frantically dialed a state police commander from a cellular telephone, the officials recounted, one truck blocked the agents' sedan and forced them to halt.

"He had his choice and he took her," the official recounted of the sniper's taking aim, firing once and striking Ms. Franklin in the head, killing her instantly.

E.P.A. then sent an emergency response official who persuaded the responsible company to correct the problem, officials recounted.

Self-interested intermediaries were trying to manipulate the national security policy of the United States to their advantage, he told them, officials familiar with the project recounted.

Still, there is no shortage of problems, and in dozens of interviews officials recounted recent missteps of their students overseas with both humor and disdain.

Under the law, the counties have until Tuesday to send their official recounts to state election officials.

Ms. Lewinsky, officials recounted, said that her memory had become more hazy over time.

Law-enforcement officials recounted a difficult daylong series of discussions over the plan as an almost surreal moment in an otherwise deadly serious confrontation.

"They almost had to go off for a minute to sort it out," the official recounted.

Mr. Bush was amused, Bolivian officials recounted, told his visitor that all heads of state had tough problems and wished him good luck.