31.   Federal authorities declined to comment on whether they were considering cases against them.

32.   Federal authorities have declined to say whether they think Atallah Khoury had any involvement in the attacks.

33.   French local authorities declined to say whether the plan would be approved.

34.   His lawyer, Marvyn Kornberg, said Matthews denied any involvement with the order, and he pointed out that federal authorities had declined to prosecute.

35.   Israeli authorities declined to allow an interview with him at the prison where he is undergoing interrogation.

36.   It is no mere coincidence that central authority has declined at the same time as free markets have grown in Russia and China.

37.   Law enforcement authorities declined comment on the case.

38.   New Hampshire authorities have declined to comment about the weapon used in the slayings.

39.   Ms. Brzonkala also said male sexual assault on a woman was the only violent felony for which the university authorities routinely declined to file incident reports with the police.

40.   Pakistani authorities declined to say whether they would make the suspects available to the Americans.