He too would be from one of the southern republics.

Several different versions of a southern Iraqi republic have been proposed.

Russia complains that one class of Israeli missile could hit its southern republics.

The lawmakers also said they reserved the right to cancel Soviet laws that are not in the best interest of their southern republic.

But in Yugoslavia's southern republics, uncertainty remains about when free elections will take place, despite official promises of political change.

The authorities in Moscow have not allowed foreign journalists to travel to the southern republics during the current unrest.

We cannot permit the loss of the southern republics, but at the same time, how do we hold them?

Another factor has been the unleashing of ethnic rivalries, especially in southern republics.

The unilateral cease-fire, however, has not been observed, and the Kremlin still seems far from ending the war in the southern republic.

Fighting since last December has destroyed wide swathes of the southern republic and killed or wounded thousands.