President Vladimir V. Putin asked at a meeting with German business executives recently, the Interfax news agency reported.

"My gut tells me that we probably did," he said when asked at a meeting with reporters on Wednesday if he believed the government had averted an attack.

Prime Minister Zhu asked at a meeting addressing the issue in January.

Mr. McCallum said his aide asked him at a private meeting.

Bennah Serfaty asked at a meeting of seven press agents in Manhattan, which a reporter attended.

When one worker asked at a meeting why reservations agents shared in the awards for on-time performance, Mr. Bethune tapped his watch.

Albert Cheng had once asked in October 2004 at a meeting whether his middle finger gesture has been referred to a committee for consideration.

Panama asked for such evidence at a meeting of the O.A.S. last week.

When asked about the signs of discord at a meeting in which 15 party leaders interviewed 12 candidates, an organizer appeared resigned.

She said that when she was the P.T.A. president five years ago, a parent asked about the school's evacuation plan at a meeting.