21.   A diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed that Israel has contacted Kurdish groups through third parties but would not elaborate.

22.   He contacted human rights groups by telephone after his arrival in California, said the Hong Kong-based Information Center of Human Rights and Democratic Movement in China.

23.   Rescuers worked through the night to contact the group, with fresh rain complicated the task.

24.   The Information Center used a paging and fax service by Hong Kong Telecommunications that allowed people in China to contact the group by local instead of long-distance numbers.

25.   The newspaper reported Valentine contacted the group that organized the event -- Wharton Wide World of Sports -- and asked that all copies be given to him.

26.   Lebanese and Syrian security services had contacted the group late Wednesday in a bid to secure their release, they said.

27.   The bank was to contact telecoms groups in North America, Europe and Asia to offer them stakes in the company, Boiko told the paper.