Former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay

Former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay has decided to invoke his legal right against self-incrimination and will refuse to answer questions about the collapse of the giant energy trading firm when he appears before a Senate panel Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for Mr. Lay made the announcement late Sunday, saying the former Enron chief was acting on the advise of his lawyers.

Two Congressional committees have subpoenaed Mr. Lay seeking information about the circumstances that led the nation's seventh largest company to file for bankruptcy in December. Mr. Lay is to appear before a House panel Thursday.

Several other former senior Enron officials have also invoked their legal right against self-incrimination and declined to answer questions from Congressional panels.

However, former Enron President James Skilling did testify last week and said he was unaware the company was facing financial ruin before he resigned last August.

But, a number of lawmakers involved with the Enron investigations have cast doubt on his testimony. One Congressman, Representative Billy Tauzin, said Sunday Mr. Skilling may have put himself in some legal jeopardy.

Meanwhile, the Washington Post says the U.S. Labor Department plans to seek the removal of Enron officials who oversee the company's retirement plans and replace them with independent experts.

The report says the department has been investigating Enron's handling of its retirement plans. Some 20,000 Enron workers and retirees lost a total of more than $1 billion in retirement funds after the company declared bankruptcy and its stock became virtually worthless.

Several Enron executives are accused of setting up partnerships to hide the company's financial problems from investors and the public.

A number of executives made large profits selling Enron stock before the company collapsed.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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