41.  Better late than never, said Russian officials who insist the aid still is badly needed.

42.  Beyond that, Russian officials are negotiating with foreign banks, which have been lining up to offer financing.

43.  Bereft of information from the battlefield, Putin and other Russian officials initially denied any Russian involvement.

44.  Both Chechen and Russian officials held out prospects of a peacemaking session Monday.

45.  Blair is expected to sign a crime co-operation agreement with Russian officials.

46.  Both Ukrainian and Russian officials insisted for days after the crash that a Ukrainian missile could not possibly have been involved.

47.  Boughner met Russian officials on Thursday.

48.  A delay in credits promised by the International Monetary Fund, which is meeting in Madrid, will also create a larger budget deficit, Russian officials say.

49.  A Russian official said Russian troops had secured the military airfield in Khankala, on the outskirts of the capital.

50.  A Russian official said that while expert help was being rejected, relief aid would be accepted in any case.