1.   Ruth asked him with trepidation, half anticipating a sudden dismissal of herself from his home.

2.   A sudden dismissal of a top executive is rare on Wall Street and usually occurs only after a firm is caught in a major scandal.

3.   Hitchcock continues to get phone calls and messages from well-wishers after his sudden dismissal by the Stars, including one from former Rangers manager Johnny Oates.

4.   The sudden dismissal of their coach astonished Revolution players, most of whom had departed from the locker room unaware of the change.

5.   The former international star said he was upset but not embittered by his sudden dismissal.

6.   The former international star said he was upset, but not embittered by his sudden dismissal.

7.   The Kremlin statement gave no explanation for the sudden dismissals.

8.   The Kremlin had no immediate comment on the sudden dismissals.