1.   At the time, Pruett downplayed reports that he would seek to leave his alma mater.

2.   Bush downplayed reports of financial troubles in his campaign.

3.   Bush downplayed the reports of damage done by outgoing Clinton administration staffers.

4.   But critics say the Pentagon is deliberately downplaying reports of civilian casualties.

5.   He downplayed recent reports that racism was not the motive behind many of the fires.

6.   In other remarks, Ruggiero downplayed reports of a backlash against freer trade over U.S.-European confrontation over the U.S. Helms-Burton anti-Cuba law.

7.   In some cases, he said, media reporters have downplayed reports on that area because a relatively small portion of evacuees came from there.

8.   Lycos Inc. is downplaying a report that it is discussing a billion-dollar partnership with a major media company.

9.   Mowlam has spent much of her American tour downplaying those reports as unsubstantiated.

10.   NCL also downplayed passenger reports of problems on Norwegian Star cruises in the weeks just prior to this sailing.