11.   The defense minister on Sunday dismissed claims that Venezuelan soldiers had arrested and tortured more than a dozen people following a cross-border raid by Colombian guerrillas.

12.   The interior minister on Thursday dismissed concerns of impending economic and political turmoil in Venezuela, responding to comments made by U.S. CIA Director George Tenet.

13.   The minister dismissed suggestions that moderate Taliban representatives could be included in the future government.

14.   The Syrian minister dismissed suggestions that Sharon wanted to pick-and-choose Arab leaders to attend a Mideast peace conference.

15.   In the interview given to the official news agency KUNA, the minister also dismissed Iraqi claims that Kuwait had a network of spies in Iraq.

16.   But the deputy minister dismissed suggestions that Malaysia had caved in to outside pressure groups in reviewing the law, first introduced to fight the communist threat.

17.   The home minister dismissed a threat by Kashmiri Moslem separatist groups to boycott the elections and said the government was determined to go ahead with the polls.

18.   The minister dismissed complaints by opponents who criticised the agreement for allowing US exports of textiles and clothing to India for the first time.

19.   The minister dismissed the notion.

20.   The minister dismissed US charges that the technology Russia is supplying to Iran could have military applications.