11.   The Israeli-Palestinian contacts began with a Sunday meeting between Mordechai and Abbas, followed by contacts between lower-level negotiators on Monday and Tuesday.

12.   He said the contacts began with provincial governors and military commanders talking with MILF leaders but has graduated to the level of a government minister.

13.   He said their criminal contacts were beginning to overlap and the groups were networking with each other.

14.   A senior State Department official said Sunday contacts could begin this week at the United Nations.

15.   Kabariti, who did not specify when the contacts began, said Washington had not yet responded to the Iraqi messages.