11.   The announcement by Gen. Sani Abacha that he had chosen a new Cabinet appeared timed to deflect charges he is not in firm control of the volatile nation.

12.   Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams deflected charges Thursday that IRA threats are blocking the Northern Ireland peace process and blamed Britain for undermining negotiations.

13.   Spicer deflected charges that UNPROFOR had failed to respond firmly enough to Serb attacks and vacillated between passive and aggressive action.