31.   Government officials told local media Sunday they would start accepting bids in September from both domestic and foreign oil companies.

32.   However, friends of the Princess told the media they believed it was her wish to be cremated, an unusual decision for British royals.

33.   In Johannesburg, Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi told a media briefing in Johannesburg that the law will be allowed to take its course in the case.

34.   And HAMAS leaders, in a statement issued Sunday, criticized the would-be mediators for not coordinating with them before telling the media about their mission.

35.   Chinese and Taiwanese officials reached broad agreement here Wednesday on establishing direct trade links across the Taiwan Strait, a mainland official told the media.

36.   Endara told local media he made the decision to take in the refugees after a telephone conversation with US President Bill Clinton late Sunday.

37.   Endara told local media he made the decision to take in the refugees after a telephone conversation with US President Bill Clinton.

38.   UN spokesman Jordan Dey earlier told a media briefing in the Afghan capital of Kabul that another two aid workers had been wounded in the shooting.

39.   Khalilzad, a senior foreign policy advisor to President George W. Bush, arrived with two other US delegates, Samad told a media briefing.

40.   Kinkel told a media briefing that talks with German agricultural leaders on their reservations about South African produce are continuing and he is confident a solution will be found.