31.   Moscow sees the plan as an effort to isolate Russia, while Western leaders have often dismissed its fears of NATO enlargement as irrational.

32.   News media leaders dismissed his words as too little, too late.

33.   Opposition leaders dismissed the first Palestinian election as irrelevant and called for a boycott, but many of their sympathizers cast ballots anyway Saturday.

34.   Opposition leaders dismissed the claims.

35.   Opposition leaders dismissed the shuffle as a non-event.

36.   Rwandan leaders dismissed last-minute pleas for clemency, including an appeal from Pope John Paul II, and imposed strict security.

37.   Republican leaders dismissed Social Security legislation that President Clinton sent to Capitol Hill on Tuesday with a fresh volley of criticism.

38.   Relations between Ali Mahdi and the sheik have been strained since the middle of last year when the faction leader dismissed Mohamed as an Islamic judge.

39.   Rwandan leaders dismissed last-minute pleas for clemency, including an appeal from Pope John Paul II.

40.   Some analysts in the United States have speculated that growing guerrilla activity in Colombia could eventually prompt U.S. intervention, though political leaders have dismissed such notions.