31.   If the bidders do not reach an agreement, the defense ministry will ask the cabinet to announce a new tender.

32.   In a protest presented in Moscow Saturday, the ministry asked Russia to return the boat and crew immediately.

33.   Jin said his ministry has asked the state Central Labor Arbitration Committee to intervene and mediate the disputes at subway and other public utilities.

34.   On Wednesday, Kubo told a parliamentary committee that the ministry likely would ask the banks to accept bigger losses in the bailout.

35.   Sanan said the ministry had asked Malaysia for cooperation in taking action against those in hiding there, citing treason as the reason.

36.   She says her ministry has asked the finance ministry for additional funding.

37.   Several ministries are asking Kiet to reconsider the decision, Chuan and other officials said.

38.   Still, the ministry has asked its representatives around the world to keep tabs on businesses that express reticence about investing in Israel.

39.   The FCUJ and two other pilot unions filed petitions with several Japanese ministries asking for investigations of the incidents, but all were turned down, Kawamoto said.

40.   The foreign ministry has also asked the Secretariat of the Francophonie to send observers to the second multiparty elections since the coup.