Washington-AP — Listen to Dole'spress conference.The freeReal playeris required.

As expected, Elizabeth Dole is announcing that she's leaving as president of the American Red Cross.

But in a text of the speech she's delivering to Red Cross employees, she says she has not made any definite plans for what she'll do next.

She says she'll soon be considering ''new paths'' -- and what she calls ''exciting possibilities.''

But she gave no hints about whether that might include a run for president in the year 2000.

The wife of 1996 Republican candidate Bob Dole says whatever direction she chooses -- she'll pursue it with all her might.

One adviser says there are plans to form a presidential exploratory committee within the next month.

And a friend says it's an option she wants to ''seriously consider.''