31.   The West should support democracy in Serbia by helping groups like the independent media and opposition mayors, perhaps even helping them rebuild factories or infrastructure in their cities.

32.   They have poured disproportionate resources into building competing official broadcast networks, siphoning money and talent that should be going to strengthen independent media.

33.   They say these regional representatives, mostly former KGB officers, will help the Kremlin to crackdown on independent media, human rights activists and others who oppose Putin.

34.   This week, Vladimir Gusinsky, the pioneer of independent media in Russia, has declared his business empire dead.

35.   Unlike their neighbors the Serbs, Montenegro has been supportive of both local independent media and foreign media.

36.   Western diplomats believe that the foothold established by the independent media is crucial if news of peace efforts is to be properly communicated to the Serbian people.

37.   With no independent media, state radio and television were free to promote the regime.

38.   Opposition parties have organized protest rallies throughout Serbia, and independent media have published reports critical of Milosevic.

39.   Other legislation targeting the independent media is expected to pass next week.

40.   Other Croatian independent media have met with the same fate, and now there is only one of four national dailies left that is not under government domination.