The agents interrogated the suspected leader of the Nairobi cell, an Arab-American, debriefing him three times to try to learn about Mr. bin Laden and the cell's activities.
Over the next several hours, American officers debriefed the man and decided that his information was credible.
American officials would then debrief the Iraqis, feed any useful information back to the United Nations teams and then help resettle the Iraqi scientists in a country willing to take them.
Once American officials have debriefed the crew, more details should emerge of what happened on Sunday, when a seemingly routine cat-and-mouse game between an American spy plane and Chinese jets ended with one death, a potentially sensational gain for Chinese intelligence and a tense diplomatic confrontation that may stoke jingoistic sentiments on both sides.
The station was, among other things, a base of operations to spy on and recruit foreign diplomats stationed at the United Nations, while debriefing selected American business executives and others willing to talk to the C.I.A. after returning from overseas.
During her debriefing some Americans showed her pictures of Ms Mueller, but she herself had never met the American hostage.
Evidence from the US survivors, debriefed on American soil, confirmed the Libyan version of events.
Her debriefing allowed Americans and Iraqis to understand how at least some of these women were recruited.
His importance in the plot was confirmed by Abu Zubaydah, a captured Qaeda leader who is being debriefed by American authorities in southern Pakistan, although some officials have questioned how much Mr. Zubaydah knew of Mr. Mohammed's activities.
He said he told the official: " 'I left the group, and there's no relationship with them no more, and I do my best if you help me, I give you all the information.' " Mr. Al-Fadl said he was debriefed by American officials for about three weeks, and then was taken to Europe to meet with representatives of the F.B.I. and the Justice Department.
In the report of his debriefing, the Palestinian-American is described three times as "nervous" and five times as "evasive".
