31.   The president would be patient, they said, as long as there were assurances that the crew would be released.

32.   The talks are part of a settlement that prompted China to release the crew.

33.   They stressed, however, that negotiations were still moving forward on the U.S. demand to release the crew.

34.   Two U.S. officials, in fact, suggested the crew could be released this weekend.

35.   Winston Lord, former U.S. ambassador to Beijing, said he feared things could worsen if the Chinese do not release the U.S. crew.

36.   While they expect is to continue burning within control lines for weeks, leaders were releasing more crews for work elsewhere.

37.   Yet another balloon carrying two Americans was also forced to land that night, but the crew was released and sent to Poland.

38.   He also issued an urgent appeal to the Taliban to release the crew of a captured Russian plane without delay.

39.   He added that Pyongyang should release the crew of a captured South Korean fishing trawler.

40.   Canadian authorities had released the crew Tuesday and the captain was out of detention Sunday after posting bond.