It was not immediately clear whether the statement signaled a shift in policy, or whether it was meant as a bow to India.

The statement could signal a signficant shift by the Kremlin, which has been opposed to such an embargo.

But the statement offered little in the way of immediate reassurance, and signaled that the Fed was likely to cut rates further in coming months.

A government spokesman clarified that this statement did not constitute, or signal an imminent move toward, formal diplomatic recognition of Kosovo.

That statement signaled a change in direction from its earlier stance, which was that it had no intention of selling MCA.

Chandler's statement, Boyarsky said, signaled to them that "they were fighting one of the great, great battles of modern journalism."

The statements by Mr. O'Neill do not necessarily signal a split within the Bush administration.

The statement, economists said, signaled that the Fed, while still viewing the risk of deflation as minor, planned to keep interest rates low for an extended period.

Such statements could signal evasiveness, serving perhaps to diminish a witness's credibility.

His overarching statement signaled politically that he would hold true to his law-and-order priorities - a 2003 version of the message he sent out in 1995.