41.   North Ossetia is separated by only a narrow swath of Ingushetia from Chechnya, and has a similar language and many other close ties to the rebel republic.

42.   North Ossetia is separated by only a narrow swath of Ingushetia from Chechnya, and has a similar language and many other close ties with the rebel republic.

43.   On Tuesday, authorities in the rebel republic decided to open criminal proceedings against Raduyev on charges of slander and treason.

44.   Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin told reporters Yeltsin could be expected to issue a presidential decree suspending the Russian military offensive in the rebel republic within the next few days.

45.   Pope John Paul II, who has repeatedly called for peace in Chechnya, met with Muslim leaders from Russia and the rebel republic.

46.   Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin told reporters the presidential decree halting Russian military activities in the rebel republic could be expected within the next few days.

47.   Sergei Kiriyenko, first deputy minister of fuel and energy, said the September agreement with the rebel Russian republic is only temporary.

48.   Russian air attacks on villages throughout Chechnya are limiting humanitarian relief efforts almost exclusively to areas outside the rebel republic.

49.   Russian lawmakers in Chechnya for negotiations with its defiant president on Friday called on Russia to halt its air strikes against the rebel republic.

50.   Russian officials had vigorously objected to his critical coverage of the offensive in the rebel republic, and some called him an apologist for the rebels.