21.   Fisher rejected speculation the panel made increased offers to the players to prevent them moving to the rival breakaway competition.

22.   Greece has rejected speculation that the United States has attempted to use the freeze to force Athens to denounce Kurdish rebels in Turkey as terrorists.

23.   Goverment spokesman Peter Hausmann told reporters that Ruehe himself had rejected such speculation as absurd and has said he has no desire to leave German politics.

24.   He regularly rejects media speculation that he is a member of that council.

25.   He rejected speculation that some of the aid is being funneled into the black market and that Iraqi government officials are intimidating aid recipients.

26.   He rejected speculation that the Taliban would attempt to push through the Tajik border.

27.   His voice tightening for the only time in the interview, Smith rejected speculation he was being forced out.

28.   However, police and psychologists rejected any speculation about a link with the killing.

29.   Hun Sen, who was not at home during the attack, rejected speculation at a news conference that he had staged the incident to crack down on opponents.

30.   Hun Sen, who has a reputation for political dirty tricks, rejected speculation that he had staged the grenade attack to crack down on opponents.