41.   Epp, a liberal politician and deputy mayor, was filling in for his boss, who was on leave, ITAR-Tass reported.

42.   In Moscow, the media and liberal politicians have assailed the union as potentially harmful to Russia.

43.   In Moscow, the Russian media and liberal politicians assailed the union treaty Tuesday as potentially harmful to Russia.

44.   It was an unusually strong statement from a liberal politician and amounted to a call for Russia to wash its hands of the Chechen problem.

45.   Liberal politician Boris Nemtsov blamed the latest attacks on government inaction.

46.   Liberal politicians and environmentalists applauded his departure.

47.   Liberal politicians and many leading cultural figures have strongly opposed the reinstatement of the Soviet anthem, saying it symbolized political repression.

48.   Liberal politicians and many leading cultural figures said the Soviet anthem symbolized repression and totalitarianism.

49.   Liberal politicians and some cultural figures have assailed the reinstatement of the Soviet music, saying it invokes the memory of totalitarian rule and political repression.

50.   Like Khatib, the incoming minister is a liberal politician with pro-Western views.