21.   It was left to the National Acquisitions Group, which supplies books and other materials to libraries, to try to preserve the minimum price mechanism for books.

22.   Barbalat told AFP that he proposed coal in a new price mechanism because the commodity was generally considered the alternative to gas and its prices have been very stable.

23.   Once the price mechanism is agreed, other technical details must be resolved before Iraqi oil can begin flowing, probably around mid-December according to diplomats.

24.   Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi called for a suspension of the price band mechanism in remarks published Saturday in the pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper.

25.   That price mechanism is largely based on NCE prices which the USDA views as the most reliable index for dairy prices.