21.   President Fernando De la Rua continued to face dogged resistance on Thursday from powerful provincial leaders opposed to an austerity plan deemed crucial to jump-starting the wayward economy.

22.   A delay until November for a French Canadian version, attributed to the need for special packaging and registration cards, drew a protest from provincial leaders in Quebec.

23.   A similar meeting will be held with southern provincial leaders Friday and Saturday.

24.   East Timor Police Chief Col. Yusuf Muharam said Belo made the denial Monday night at a meeting with provincial leaders.

25.   Following the dismissals, Sichuan Governor Sun Baorui and other senior provincial leaders began a training and problem-solving project at Great Wall.

26.   Government troops and provincial leaders fled the Taliban forces without a fight, U.N. workers reported.

27.   He took his criticisms right up the ladder of authority to provincial leaders, angering local officials but getting only perfunctory responses, the report said.

28.   His boyhood friend was on the other side, a provincial leader for the U.S.-backed government of South Vietnam.

29.   His resignation as premier and New National Party provincial leader takes effect on Monday.

30.   Inkatha wants to run KwaZulu-Natal province as an autonomous state in South Africa, with provincial leaders controlling security, education and other areas instead of the national government.