From NPR News in Washington, I'm Ann Bozell.

Secretary of State Colin Powell says intense negotiations are going on with China to secure the release of 24 American flyers.

China has detained them since they made an emergency landing in southern China last Sunday after their plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet.

The Chinese are demanding a U.S. apology, but Secretary of State Colin Powell says they won't

get it.

We have expressed regrets and we've expressed our sorrow and we are sorry that a life was

lost.

The only life lost to this point was that of the Chinese pilot.

And so I think it's a very proper thing to express our regrets and sorrow over that.

The question of apology is something quite different because then we're being asked to accept

responsibility and that we have not done can't do and therefore won't apologize for that.

Powell appeared on Fox News Sunday. China is also demanding an end to U.S. surveillance flights off

its coast, but Vice President Dick Cheney told meet the press those are important to U.S. national security.

Meanwhile, American diplomats are waiting for word on whether they'll be allowed to meet with the detained Americans today.

NPR's Rob Gifford reports they were able to do so yesterday.

U.S. defense attache Neil Seelock met with the crew for a third time last night, saying he

passed on emails from their friends and family and was also able to update them on sports

scores in the United States. Seelock said that the crew continued to be in good spirits and that he was

pushing for more access to the 21 men and three women. There's been no sign yet as to when the crew

members will be released. Rob Gifford, NPR News, Beijing. In Russia, supporters of the embattled

independent television station NTV held another rally today, this time in

St. Petersburg. NPR's Michelle Kellerman has the latest.

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