41.   Demonstrators clashed in the battle-scarred Chechen capital Thursday as weary negotiators appeared near an agreement on ending the seven-month war.

42.   Diana spoke quietly, almost wanly, and she swallowed hard and appeared near tears several times during the hour-long interview.

43.   During the hour-long interview, Diana swallowed hard and appeared near tears on several occasions.

44.   For some dreadful moments, however, it appeared near certain he would need to outfit Filipinos with iron manacles to observe their independence day this year.

45.   He appeared near tears a few times during a long, rambling talk with reporters.

46.   Journalists forced by the mob to leave said the man, who was slumped on a hillside, appeared near death.

47.   Many of the roof beams appeared near collapse.

48.   The accord on ending military hostilities, at first hailed as a breakthrough, appeared near collapse Monday.

49.   The latest fighting added urgency to diplomatic efforts to save the Kosovo peace talks in Rambouillet, France, which appeared near the brink of collapse.

50.   The law appears near final passage, after which it must be signed by President Andres Pastrana.