11.   The president has since backed away from that promise under pressure from the PRI and warnings from members of his own cabinet.

12.   White House spokesman Mike McCurry said the president would not back off.

13.   Plavsic refused an invitation from Milosevic to come to Belgrade for talks with the pro-Karadzic faction, believing that the powerful Yugoslav president is backing Karadzic.

14.   Although the president has publicly backed Barros, the scandal has refused to die down.

15.   But the president backed off slightly the next morning, deciding to give a national broadcast rather than hosting the show, presidential spokesman Freddy Balzan said.

16.   Chernomyrdin said Tuesday that the president backs the accord.

17.   Madrazo rallied his supporters onto city streets, and the president backed down.

18.   The Italian president backed out because of political turmoil at home.

19.   The president backed these reassurances, telling the Interfax news agency he has lost his voice after granting dozens of interviews to regional TV and radio companies.

20.   The U.S. administration wants the Iranian president to back up his conciliatory remarks with deeds, officials say Thursday.