A federal judge in Washington yesterday denied a Microsoft request to stay an order that requires company chairman Mr Bill Gates to testify in public in pre-trial depositions in an antitrust suit.

US District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's two-paragraph denial followed his decision on Tuesday to authorise a number of US news organisations to attend the depositions of Mr Gates and 19 other Microsoft employees.

The depositions are to be taken as part of an antitrust lawsuit filed against Microsoft by the US Justice Department and a coalition of 20 states. They have accused Microsoft of trying to stifle competition from rival software producers by limiting access to its Windows 98 operating system. Trial before Jackson is set to begin on September 8th.