But the Democratic leader, Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota, quickly rebuffed him and called the idea premature.

But leaders of both parties have largely rebuffed his overtures.

But the Soviet leader has rebuffed all talk of secession and in his remarks to the Baltic officials placed party unity as paramount, Tass said.

The Soviet leader rebuffed suggestions from the hall that he offer a choice of candidates, and debate was cut off after a short series of orchestrated testimonials.

The authority's top leaders repeatedly, and often angrily, rebuffed the criticism.

The leader of the party, Angela Merkel, rebuffed calls last week for Mr. Friedman to leave the party.

The Palestinian leader, who has been isolated in his ruined compound for more than a year, rebuffed that request, these reports said.

But Iraqi leaders have rebuffed calls for the abolishment of the death penalty, arguing that it serves as a deterrent to crimes.

The Taliban's leaders rebuffed a request by senior United States officials to extradite him earlier this year, before the embassy bombings.

Just last week, Latin American leaders roundly rebuffed President Bush's attempt to promote a "free trade agreement for the Americas."