U.S. Points Finger at German Firms : Collaboration: 50 companies are accused of breaking the embargo against Iraq. And they may still be helping Saddam Hussein produce deadly weapons.

The United States has given the German government a secret list of 50 German companies suspected of breaking the international embargo against Iraq, officials confirmed Friday, fueling speculation that foreign firms are still helping Saddam Hussein produce deadly weapons.

Neither German nor American officials would provide details about the 50 firms or what they allegedly delivered to Iraq. However, sources who spoke on condition of anonymity indicated that the goods are not limited to weapons parts and technology but also include items such as meat and milk.

Bonn said the Americans gleaned their information from monitored telephone and facsimile communications originating in Iraq. U.S. officials refused to confirm or deny this account.

The U.S. National Security Agency monitors communications worldwide, and its facilities are able to capture data transmitted into and out of Iraq by telephone and other electronic means.

German government spokesman Dieter Vogel told a news conference that the list was delivered by the U.S. Embassy here earlier this week and that an initial check of the companies produced no immediate evidence of wrongdoing.

However, the Economics Ministry, which is overseeing the investigation, confirmed through spokesman Volker Franzen that a few of the companies are still under scrutiny and could face formal charges.

“Something like this is always embarrassing,” said another government spokesman, Karl-Heinz Lamberty, in a telephone interview. “But it’s impossible for a country with such a huge export trade to check every single package going in and out.”

Germany strengthened its export laws six months ago amid reports that several companies were allegedly selling weapons or parts of weapons to Libya and unfriendly nations in the Middle East.

Nevertheless, 20 to 30 individuals or companies reportedly continued to sidestep the law and are under investigation by the German federal prosecutor on suspicion of supplying proscribed services and commodities to Iraq.

In Washington, a congressional staff member speaking on condition of anonymity charged that “certain German companies are still going in and out of Iraq, at least as late as a week ago.”

“It is my understanding that the names of these companies have been provided to the German government,” the staff member said. “Their response has not thrilled anybody.”

At the Economics Ministry here, spokesman Franzen said some of the German companies on the Americans’ list include those who had personnel held hostage in Iraq and had reason to be in communication with Baghdad.

“Most of the cases on the list are false,” Franzen said. “Very, very few are still under investigation. I can’t tell you exactly how many, though, and we cannot provide any further details.”

American investigators told The Times last month that a small number of foreign nationals may be helping the Iraqis maintain key facilities, including that country’s main chemical weapons plant.

The Bush Administration briefed congressional officials on Iraq this week, and the issue of possible embargo violations arose, according to the congressional source.

The source said Administration officials who provided the briefing felt the Germans had improved their efforts to halt shipments to Iraq, but congressional staffers, including some with access to intelligence data, were skeptical.

“The Germans are essentially doing nothing,” the congressional source said.