On Tuesday, special prosecutor Kenneth Starr will begin his questioning of Linda Tripp, Lewinsky's `friend' who secretly taped conversations with her.

Tripp's long-awaited grand jury testimony about the scandal that came to light when she brought her audio tapes to Starr in January is expected to last several days, but could be stretched over several weeks. In those tapes Tripp, 48, says Lewinsky confided her love for the President and her determination to lie to investigators to keep their sexual liaison hidden.

``Monica described every detail of the relationship,'' she said in a January 29 press release. ``In addition I was present when she received a late-night phone call from the President.''

Several days earlier Tripp, under oath, said the liaison between Clinton and Lewinsky had began on November 15, 1995. She saidLewinsky had asked her to lie about the relationship.

``I was being solicited in a plan to conceal and cover up the true nature of the relationship between Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton,'' she said.

Tripp probably will be the last key witness brought before the grand jury investigating whether Clinton lied under oath or encouraged others to do so.

Her testimony is expected to increase pressure on Lewinsky to reach a deal with Starr to end her silence. For the past several weeks Lewinsky's new lawyers have been negotiating with Starr, seeking to obtain immunity in exchange for her cooperation.

Lewinsky is apparently ready to admit that she had a sexual relationship with Clinton, but not that he then pressured her to lie under oath or that he helped her find a job. Starr is reportedly not satisfied with that offer, but talks are continuing.The independent prosecutor is investigating possible obstruction of Justice and subornation of perjury charges against Clinton in connection with formerArkansas state employee Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit against the President.

Jones is appealing a federal judge's decision to dismiss the case on the grounds that her attorneys failed to show that Clinton's alleged harassment traumatized Jones or damaged her career.