''It is not the bureau's policy to discuss ongoing criminal investigations,'' said Cyndi McCraw, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Washington field office.

Defense officials have said that 125 people who were in areas at or near the impact point are believed to have died. The 64 passengers and crew aboard the Boeing 757 were also killed.

Until Friday, the Arlington County, Va., Fire Department had led the rescue and then recovery phases of the operation. The Pentagon is in Arlington, across the Potomac River from Washington.

President Bush declared Friday that a major disaster exists in Virginia, which qualifies the state for federal money to help recover from the terrorist attack. Bush issued a similar declaration for New York, where two planes plowed into the World Trade Center shortly before a hijacker flew the jetliner into the Pentagon.

Of the 118 sets of human remains recovered, officials have positively identified 40 victims at the military mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

''Additional remains will be discovered during the course of the FBI's investigation,'' said Arlington Fire Chief Edward P. Plaugher, referring all future inquiries to federal authorities. Plaugher has said some of the victims may never be accounted for.

The FBI is expected to spend up to a month processing the crime scene. Forensic technicians from several federal state and local agencies will also be assisting with efforts to extract evidence from debris removed from the site. At least 20 Arlington police officers have been using hand tools and rakes to glean human remains, personal effects, airplane parts, and Pentagon papers from the debris.

Family members and friends of the victims have left flowers, flags, personal notes, stuffed animals and pictures outside the fence where crews waged the effort to recover their remains.

''There were 350 family members here last Saturday, and 20 to 40 a day ever since,'' said Ron L. McLendon II, a civilian Army spokesman.

On the Net:

Military photos of recovery operation: http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/imagery/