51.   In an apparent bid to reassure the public, the official news media started saying Tuesday evening that there had been substantial decreases in basic food prices.

52.   In an apparent bid to underline his status as a key Asian statesmen for several decades, Mahathir is travelling with United Nations envoy to Myanmar Razali Ismail.

53.   In an apparent bid to ease tensions, Taiwanese Premier Lien Chan offered Wednesday to sign a peace agreement with China.

54.   In an apparent bid to force the government to show conviction in fiscal discipline, the IMF in September withheld some promised funds from Zimbabwe until March next year .

55.   In an apparent bid to revive the stalled peace process, Boutros-Ghali is expected to meet with leaders or representatives of Afghan mujahedeen groups.

56.   Irish police have questioned a man about an apparent bid to extort money from England soccer boss Terry Venables, it was revealed here on Tuesday.

57.   A grim-faced Rose and civil affairs chief Viktor Andreyev later met with Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic in an apparent bid to broker a deal with the Serbs.

58.   Beijing has since suspended high-level talks between the two sides and launched a series of military exercises in an apparent bid to counter pro-independence sentiments on the island.

59.   Bosnian Serbs, Croats and government forces have all been flying helicopters over the country in the past few weeks in apparent bids to reinforce and resupply their troops.

60.   But in an apparent bid to contain a potentially serious backlash, the Philippines backtracked and said the ownership of the two foreign boats could not be ascertained.