On Thursday, Somalia's Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke refused to comment on reports that a ransom of as much as $700,000 was eventually paid to the kidnappers.

VOA: standard.2009.11.26

A spokesman for President Karzai also refused to comment on the media reports.

VOA: standard.2009.11.12

A Toyota official says the company will not comment on any ongoing litigation.

VOA: standard.2010.03.26

But speaking to VOA by phone a spokesman for the U.S.Embassy in Kabul, John Groch,refused to comment on media reports regarding Ambassador Eikenberry's feelings on sending additional U.S.troops to Afghanistan.

VOA: standard.2009.11.12

He expressed reluctance to comment on American domestic affairs, but suggested that a renewal of the now-expired U.S.ban on assault weapons would be helpful in curbing the flow of high-powered armaments to Mexican drug cartels.

VOA: standard.2009.04.12