WASHINGTON -- The Senate rejected an attempt by a number of Democrats to strip from surveillance legislation a provision that would bar lawsuits against phone companies alleged to have helped the government's warrantless spying, handing President Bush a small initial victory.

In an effort to secure support in the House for the immunity provision, the White House yesterday gave some House lawmakers access to long-sought documents outlining the post-Sept. 11 requests to telecommunications companies and other related documents....