1.   Privately, even prosecutors who helped draft their brief expressed pessimism about getting a favorable ruling.

2.   Rwanda and Zimbabwe have both expressed pessimism over progress being made in the latest Lusaka talks.

3.   However, Chinese economists have expressed pessimism that the government will achieve its target this year, saying exports are generally strongest in the early months of the year.

4.   A UN official who asked not to be named expressed pessimism about the meeting, noting that only low-level officials from both sides were attending the face-to-face encounter.