101.   The meeting came ahead of visits this week by German Defense Minister Volker Ruhe and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Franklin Kramer.

102.   The Moscow meetings come ahead of high-level talks between Sabri and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in early May, which Blix is also expected to attend.

103.   The move comes ahead of scheduled talks in New York next week between the U-N and the foreign ministers of Indonesia and Portugal.

104.   The new offers from the EU and Asia come ahead of a visit to the communist state by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

105.   The remarks came ahead of presidential elections next week.

106.   The news conference comes ahead of expected peace talks in Thailand in May.

107.   The nomination comes ahead of an expected announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon that he will seek the position of secretary-general of the Commonwealth.

108.   The rebel offer comes ahead of another round of cease-fire talks under auspices of Zambian president and chief African mediator in Congo, Frederick Chiluba.

109.   The protest came ahead of new Israel-PLO talks later in the day in Egypt.

110.   The rebel offer comes ahead of another round of cease-fire talks under auspices of Zambian president and chief African mediators in Congo, Frederick Chiluba.