101.   But one crucial factor driving it toward a freer society has been the rise of truly independent newspapers, magazines and television stations.

102.   But John Morton, an independent newspaper industry analyst in Bethesda, Md., says the imperative to reverse the readership decline remains strong.

103.   But the strict requirements for membership have left thousands of journalists, mostly with opposition or independent newspapers, unable to join.

104.   But the independent newspaper El Watan was not optimistic.

105.   Chavunduka, the editor of the independent Standard newspaper, was arrested after his weekly paper reported on an alleged coup plot.

106.   Cholera has killed hundreds of people in southern Abia state in the past month, the independent Guardian newspaper of Lagos reported Sunday.

107.   Councilman John Chilambwe, a former Lusaka mayor, was grabbed by the police on orders of local government minister Ben Mwiinga, two independent newspapers reported.

108.   Detectives of the Terrorist Investigation Department picked up Sri Gajan of the independent Virakesari newspaper at his office on Thursday.

109.   Earlier Monday, two firebombs were hurled at the western provincial offices of the only independent daily newspaper, which the government has accused of supporting the opposition.

110.   Earlier reports in independent newspapers had indicated the army is being restructured to satisfy NATO standards.