Many human rights groups welcomed the request, but the court has not yet authorized an investigation.
Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who recently co-sponsored legislation that would impose such testing requirements on all children's products, said he welcomed the request.
Ethics watchdog groups welcomed the request as a sign that the panel might wield its power to address mounting allegations of misconduct on Capitol Hill.
It said it "welcomed" the request and understood "the need for an accelerated legislative procedure", but said it would have "appreciated being consulted at an earlier stage".
Gene Grabowski, spokesman for the Grocery Manufacturers of America, said he welcomed the new request from Aventis.
But even before they sent the letter, Bishop Murphy heard about it and immediately welcomed the priests' request for a meeting.
Simon Collis, the British ambassador, said his attendance at Giyath Matar's vigil on Sunday was to "express condolences" after the family welcomed the diplomats' request to attend.
Although Syria has never confirmed having chemical weapons, Foreign Minister Walid Moallem said his government welcomed the Russian request.
When it disclosed the commission's informal inquiry on Oct. 22, Enron promised to cooperate fully with the S.E.C. "We welcome this request," Kenneth L. Lay, Enron's chairman, said.
Bohn said he would welcome the debate expected to follow his request.
The Conference welcomed the Council's request that the Programme Committee examine the feasibility of developing preliminary information on PWB proposals and submit them to the Committees on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (para 86).
