21.   Authorities dismiss claims of assassinations arguing the violence is due to business or personal disputes, or sorcery.

22.   But Turkish authorities dismissed the move as meaningless.

23.   Zimbabwean authorities have dismissed all striking government workers for defying orders to resume duty by Friday, and efforts to replace them have already begun, officials said Saturday.

24.   Local media suggested that President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada may be considering a nationwide state of emergency, but authorities dismissed this as speculation.

25.   Singaporean authorities in February dismissed an appeal by the group against the ban on its activities.