41.   Chernomyrdin said he welcomed the release Tuesday of two French pilots detained by the Bosnian Serbs.

42.   Dissidents and opposition parties welcomed the release of political prisoners but denounced the government for holding hundreds of others jailed for anti-government activities.

43.   Earlier, the White House welcomed the release of two men and also kept mum on the espionage charges.

44.   The SI also welcomed the release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi after nearly six years of house arrest.

45.   The office of the High Representative, Carl Bildt, welcomed the releases but said more were needed.

46.   The US State Department on Thursday welcomed the release of the report and called on Khartoum to take action to prevent the practice and punish slave traders.

47.   The US State Department welcomed the release and called for Chen to remain outside jail.

48.   The statement welcomed the release of two French pilots, handed over by the Bosnian Serb military to France on Tuesday, after three months of captivity.

49.   Togolese opposition figures Friday welcomed the release of opposition leader Yawovi Agboyibo but said other contentious issues had to be resolved including a new and controversial electoral code.

50.   While welcoming the release, the minister also renewed his call on the rebels to join the negotiating table with a view to reaching a ceasefire.