41.   His comments appeared aimed at bolstering talks between Russian and Chechen rebel negotiators, who tentatively agreed Friday to organize elections and extend a shaky cease-fire.

42.   Hours ahead of a crucial deadline, rebel negotiators presented a timetable for cease-fire talks Sunday to government envoys visiting a guerrilla sanctuary.

43.   Hours before the scheduled start of peace talks in France, Serbian authorities faced international pressure Saturday to guarantee rebel negotiators safe passage from Kosovo.

44.   In Chechnya, meanwhile, Russian and rebel negotiators met for an informal round of talks on the outskirts of the capital Grozny.

45.   Informal talks continue, with exiled rebel negotiators based in the Dutch city of Utrecht.

46.   Indigenous rebel negotiators, some wearing traditional wool ponchos and ribboned hats, were clearly displeased with the proposal but promised to take it to their communities for consultations.

47.   It was the second such incident since government and rebel negotiators signed a preliminary peace pact two months ago.

48.   Jockeying for advantage, government and rebel negotiators prepared Friday to revive peace talks characterized so far by squabbles and mistrust.

49.   Last month, security forces defied his orders and arrested six rebel negotiators who had been granted safe passage by the government.

50.   Last year, police arrested six rebel negotiators while they were attending talks in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh.