11.   As he has gained in popularity, Chavez has moderated his talk, in some instances contradicting earlier statements.

12.   Bentsen, who stood by his earlier statements, retaliated by chastising Republicans for relying on aides to supply them questions.

13.   A Navy spokesman, reversing earlier statements that the sub had gone down under control of the crew, said Thursday that the Kursk sank rapidly.

14.   After the sergeant said the earlier statements were incomplete, he said, Timmendequas looked down.

15.   But during his tortured testimony, the distraught limo driver backed off those earlier statements.

16.   But because the earlier statements had been made spontaneously, outside of interrogation, and were recorded electronically, they became potent evidence at trial.

17.   But in earlier statements to authorities, the children said their mother had been driving fast and none of their seat belts was secured.

18.   But on many other issues, he contradicted his earlier statements.

19.   But the INS declined to elaborate on its earlier statements.

20.   But the Michigan Supreme Court ruled last year that because he was not technically in a vegetative state, his earlier statements were inapplicable.