Nation IN BRIEF : NATIONWIDE : CIA Panel Urges More Public Access

A CIA panel has recommended that millions of pages of secret documents be declassified and urged that its officials become increasingly accessible to the public, the New York Times reported. The newspaper quoted intelligence officials as saying that the internal panel, established by CIA Director Robert M. Gates, was exploring ways to lift the veil of secrecy at the agency. The panel--dubbed the Openness Task Force--has recommended that Gates consider options including an increase in on-the-record interviews, public speeches and public testimony to Congress by senior officials.