41.   But Annan hoped to finalize an agreement in time for signature before he leaves the Iraqi capital on Monday afternoon, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

42.   But Annan hoped to finalize an agreement that can be signed before he leaves Baghdad on Monday afternoon, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said.

43.   But EU officials said they will take his claims into account before the agreement is finalized in August.

44.   Ciller also Monday finalized an agreement with her former social democrat partners to renew a coalition government that collapsed last month.

45.   Croat and Muslim negotiators met in Germany on Friday to finalize an agreement to unify their police, local governments and eventually their armies.

46.   Daewoo Corp. of Korea has also finalized an agreement to establish a joint-venture trading firm with Shanghai Lansheng Corp.

47.   Delegations from the three countries opened a quiet meeting in Oslo on Monday, in hopes of finalizing the agreement, which Havnen said was initialed on Tuesday.

48.   Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen confirmed Monday he has offered a head-coaching contract to Mike Shanahan and said he was hopeful of finalizing the agreement by Tuesday.

49.   Earlier, negotiators said they hoped to finalize an agreement on ending their seven-month war on Sunday.

50.   Fawzi al-Qassar, assistant undersecretary at the Finance Ministry, told the Kuwait News Agency the two countries have finalized the agreement after three rounds of negotiations.