21.   The next stage for negotiators is to appoint people to chair the negotiating groups.

22.   The talks involved three negotiating groups, one representing the IBEW and two from the Communications Workers of America.

23.   The U.S. delegation was due to formally announce its withdrawal at a meeting of the negotiating group Friday, a trade official said.

24.   The U.S. delegation will formally announce its withdrawal at a meeting of the negotiating group later Friday, one trade official said.

25.   The U.S. delegation will formally announce its withdrawal at a meeting of the negotiating group later Wednesday, a trade official said.

26.   U.S. negotiators postponed a key meeting of the negotiating group until late Friday to allow Washington time to make its decision.

27.   Two negotiating groups continued discussions on the document Sunday, the seventh day of the conference, but most delegates took the day off and toured Beijing.

28.   However, diplomats said this means the negotiating group might therefore not be able to reconvene until early autumn.

29.   Agreement in principle on the main features of the new arrangements was hammered out last May by the negotiating group, chaired by Italian Treasury Director General Mario Draghi.

30.   All SDP leaders have said that the sudden inauguration of the parliamentary negotiating group on the eve of the formation of the Hata cabinet was undemocratic.