11.  But Bratton and John Miller, the chief spokesman for the department, insisted yesterday that the impetus for the encounters came from Robinson.

12.  But Carl Golden, chief spokesman for Mrs. Whitman, said that the governor has never said that she would never raise taxes.

13.  But David Wimhurst, the chief spokesman for the United Nations in East Timor, said no U.N. staff were leaving before their time was up.

14.  But Michael Williams, the departing chief civilian spokesman, said journalists had been barred because the Serbs insisted that only U.N. personnel travel on the flights.

15.  But now that he is chief spokesman for CBS, Schwartz might find it harder to keep the opinionated Bing in the shadows.

16.  But now that he is chief spokesman for CBS, Schwartz may find it harder to keep the opinionated Bing in the shadows.

17.  But the chief spokesman for the U.S. Central Command denied that American warplanes had bombed Northern Alliance positions.

18.  Carl Stern, chief spokesman for the Justice Department, faults overzealous requesters.

19.  Dan Vogel, chief spokesman for the FBI in Oklahoma City, could not be reached for comment.

20.  David Bar-Illan, chief spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said this was a significant step.