11.   Hungarian President Arpad Goencz awarded him the Order of Merit of the Republic, said presidential spokeswoman Maria Trkala.

12.   Hussein arrived late Monday and met with Clinton and top aides in the White House family quarters to go over summit preparations, presidential spokeswoman April Mellody said.

13.   In Kampala, presidential spokeswoman Kazangere said reports of fighting in southern Sudan might delay another round of Uganda-Sudan talks, planned for Thursday in Kampala.

14.   In Washington, presidential spokeswoman Mary Ellen Glynn said the United States customarily would send any aid through an organization like the Red Cross.

15.   In Washington, presidential spokeswoman Mary Ellen Glynn said the United States would send any aid through an organization like the Red Cross.

16.   Kim planned to go ahead with a trip Sunday to Japan to attend the World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, said presidential spokeswoman Park Sun-sook.

17.   Kim Hong-gul, a resident in Los Angeles, flew to Seoul late Tuesday, said presidential spokeswoman Park Sun-sook.

18.   Meanwhile, presidential spokeswoman Olena Hromnytska said Wednesday that Kuchma ordered his government to prepare documentation that would allow sales of weapons and ammunition to the new Afghan army.

19.   Neither Chirac nor Kohl spoke publicly about the issue, but French presidential spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said the two leaders would stay in touch over the matter.

20.   President Nelson Mandela narrowly escaped injury in a tornado on Tuesday, a presidential spokeswoman said.