"This is a permanent fight, in which, unfortunately, many have lost their lives," he declared at a meeting of governors and top public security officials, calling for a crusade to reclaim Mexico from drug gangs.

Mr. Weld had been expected here in Las Vegas to attend a meeting of governors but canceled that plan late Friday.

Nor, he told a meeting of governors, will he support any plans - like one proposed recently by Mr. Primakov - to eliminate the direct elections of Russia's regional leaders.

"Bob Dole is absolutely going to be the nominee," Mr. Fordice said at the meeting of Republican governors.

At a meeting of Republican governors in Boca Raton, Fla., Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, urged them to contact House members.

The plan was approved at the annual meeting of Republican governors, held this year in Miami.

Mr. Cavazos said he would immediately convene four regional meetings of governors, legislators and educators "to develop innovations to promote choice in their respective areas."

"Unless the war is stopped, the wound will bleed and bleed," Mr. Chernomyrdin said today at a meeting of regional governors in Moscow.

At a meeting of the owners and governors, Conn Smythe resigned as Toronto's governor, to be replaced by his son, Stafford Smythe.

The governors were in Washington for a meeting of governors, not just to meet with her, Ms. Browner said.