BellSouth did not turn over call records to the National Security Agency as reported in May by USA Today, the newspaper said Friday in a full-page account that included an editor's note about the publication's findings.

The paper, which said five lawmakers who were briefed on the spy program were told BellSouth did not help the NSA, reported that its initial story overreached in describing the extent of phone company cooperation with the NSA.

USA Today, however, reiterated that a huge database of phone records does exist, assembled with assistance from AT&T and the former MCI, which is now owned by Verizon Communications.

USA Today's May 11 article about the NSA's spying program set off a firestorm of publicity, criticism and lawsuits against phone companies, including BellSouth.

While AT&T has largely dodged questions about the claims, Atlanta-based BellSouth has issued strong objections to the paper's claims about the company's role in the NSA.

On May 18, BellSouth took the unusual step of asking for a formal retraction. It took more than six weeks for USA Today to respond in print.

The paper reported Friday, as it has before, that a BellSouth official was read the first story and did not deny participation in the program. BellSouth later issued denials.

Verizon has also objected to USA Today's story, saying the company did not work with the NSA. Verizon, however, carefully worded its statement to exclude the activities of MCI, which was acquired by Verizon in January.

In an editor's note, USA Today said the NSA does have a "massive, domestic calls record database." However, the paper said it "cannot confirm that BellSouth or Verizon contracted with the NSA to provide bulk calling records to that database."

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) is quoted as saying that BellSouth's denials appear to be accurate.