11.   The proposal is to connect Songkhla in southern Thailand with Pulau Paya in Langkawi on the northwestern Malaysian coast.

12.   However, the number of casualties on Biak -- a smaller island just off the northwestern coast of the island of New Guinea -- was expected to rise.

13.   Banbi said the project includes two processing and liquefaction plants which could be located either on the northwestern coast or in north Sinai.

14.   LTTE forces on Friday raided a police post on government-held Mannar Island off the northwestern coast.

15.   The LTTE attack came despite the navy stepped up surveillance off the northwestern coast following a series of rebel abductions of fishermen from the majority Sinhalese community last week.