31.   The panel came under increasing criticism from banks concerned about the mounting cost of the investigation and the prospect of it being extended.

32.   The state Association of Counties has joined Gov. George Pataki in asking for federal help to pay for the mounting costs of the West Nile virus.

33.   He said Pacific League clubs, backed by big companies, would be able to face mounting costs.

34.   Simply rescheduling debts would only aggravate the problem of poorer nations because of the mounting cost of the interest-on-interest effect, it said.

35.   Sri Lanka plans to slash subsidies to meet the mounting costs of its protracted war against Tamil Tiger separatists, President Chandrika Kumaratunga said in remarks published Thursday.

36.   The institute warned that mounting costs would quicken losses in international price competitiveness.