1.   Despite reports this season that Mahoney and Lopez were at odds, Lopez said he would immediately call Mahoney if the resignation rumors were confirmed.

2.   Some Russians were wondering Wednesday about the future of Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, who hotly denied resignation rumors that floated into print Tuesday night.

3.   At the same time, the officials again dismissed the resignation rumor.

4.   News that Murayama would quit capped days of intensifying resignation rumors.

5.   Resignation rumors have intensified in recent days.

6.   Speaking on Monday at the National Press Club, Bentsen sought to make light of the resignation rumors although he did not deny them.

7.   The Kommersant daily shrugged off the resignation rumor altogether.