41.   Officials at NATO headquarters say efforts to push forward cooperation programs with the Russians have slackened since the tanks rolled into the separatist Caucasus region last month.

42.   One topic on the summit agenda will be the role of Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia, the separatist region of Georgia, the Interfax news agency said.

43.   Officials in Chechnya on Tuesday began investigating reports of abuses by Russian forces during an eight-day security sweep of two villages in the separatist region.

44.   On Tuesday, two separatist fighters were killed in a firefight in Ghali, which lies on the border between the separatist region, the warring sides said.

45.   Ongoing negotiations are discussing economic and political relations between Russia and the separatist region.

46.   President Boris Yeltsin on Saturday replaced the commander of Russian troops in Chechnya, where clashes continued with rebel fighters in the southern separatist region, a report said.

47.   Russia and its separatist region of Chechnya are cooperating in investigating the explosion, the report said, adding that police believe someone may have commissioned the bombing.

48.   Russian and Chechen officials reported progress Wednesday toward an agreement that would regulate economic relations between the separatist region and the rest of Russia.

49.   Russian border guards were caught Friday preparing to sell guns and grenades destined for rebel fighters in the separatist region of Chechnya, a news agency said.

50.   Russian officials say they are battling international terrorists, financed and otherwise supported by suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, in the separatist region of Chechnya.