21.   Applications so far have come from Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Greece and Austria.

22.   He said numerous applications had come from as far afield as Germany, other western European countries and Malaysia.

23.   In a sign that more applications could come in quickly, former Security Minister Adriaan Vlok this week became the first apartheid Cabinet member to apply for amnesty.

24.   The application came too late, however, for the former Yugoslav republic to be considered for membership at the NATO summit in Prague in November.

25.   The ministry said his application came several days after his visa had expired.

26.   Thousands more applications come in every month, said Gauck, a former East German pastor.

27.   In this case, the application came three days before departure.

28.   But its application comes after three years of intense legal wrangling against foreign tour operators, the local tourism industry and even central government in Madrid.

29.   The application will come up for hearing on Sunday, court sources said.

30.   The application came in a letter signed by President Xanana Gusmao and Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri and dated Monday, the day East Timor became independent.