A requirement for tobacco companies to put large graphic health warnings on cigarette packages is under scrutiny. The government wanted to rehear the challenge but the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington said no. After the request was denied the Justice Department declined to comment but the government still has 90 days to appeal that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Back in August a three judge panel agreed with a previous court ruling to end the requirement made by the Food and Drug Administration, as many of the nation's largest tobacco companies hoped to block the mandate. They say the proposed warnings went beyond factual information as they attempted to show the dangers of smoking and encourage smokers to quit lighting up in a very graphic way. The government concluded that the photos used of dead and diseased smokers were in deed factual. (bg)