Some program officials said they thought the delays in closing on the grants stemmed not from bottlenecks in the system, but from homeowners' uncertainty about rebuilding.

According to The New York Times, the delay stemmed from computer bugs in the program.

The I.M.F.'s delay may also stem from a change in leadership.

The first delays had stemmed from previous court battles over the defendant's mental state.

Rice's delay in being elected to the Hall of Fame stemmed in part from more current statistical analysis of player performance.

He said the delay stemmed from miscommunication among staff members about which rules would prevail, those for the test or those for regular operation.

The delays stemmed from the start of a project to replace the crumbling ramp that connects the Gowanus to the Prospect Expressway.

The delays stem in part from its attempt to improve its processing by adopting a computer scanning system to speed the input of information.

To hear the White House tell it, the delay stems largely from European doubts.

But Lukyanov said delays in establishing cooperative efforts stem from the two sides giving different weight to different aspects of the Afghanistan campaign.