31.   He offered no specific plan, but European officials sounded willing to give the Americans time and negotiating room before December.

32.   In Riyadh, the capital, Saudi officials sound reassuring.

33.   In Sarajevo, U.N. officials sounded less determined.

34.   In Sarajevo, U.N. officials sounded much less determined.

35.   Interior Ministry officials also sounded alarm about the growth of white-collar crime.

36.   It could develop into a deal-breaker, and officials were sounding less optimistic than they had a day earlier.

37.   Officials sounded relieved over the early success of the mission.

38.   On Wednesday, a senior ethnic Albanian official sounded pessimistic about the talks.

39.   Russian officials have sounded increasingly hawkish as fighting wears on.

40.   Several top officials sounded hopeful that the budget would be adopted despite the scandal.