1.   But he is due to leave office in August and is said by Dominican political leaders and foreign diplomats to want to exit on a statesmanlike note.

2.   Fernandez, the Dominican leader, has worked closely with Washington on trade, drug trafficking and money laundering issues but criticized the U.S. embargo of Cuba.

3.   Hundreds of supporters gathered Sunday before the tomb of Dominican political leader Jose Francisco Pena Gomez to mourn his death from cancer one year ago.

4.   McCaffrey is to meet Wednesday with Dominican leaders in the capital of Santo Domingo.

5.   Seeking to resolve a crisis in the military, the new Dominican leader fired four senior military officers, including the armed forces chief whom he accused of insubordination.

6.   The Dominican leader was expected to meet with other Latin American officials during his two-day stay in the Nicaraguan capital.

7.   The Dominican leader also will meet with businessmen from throughout the Americas in hopes of attracting foreign investors.

8.   The Dominican leader will also meet with businessmen from throughout the Americas in hopes of attracting foreign investors.

9.   The Dominican leader made no comment after the meeting.