21.   UNHCR is working on rough contingency plans for a possible outflow of refugees from Iraq if the crisis escalates, said Janowski.

22.   If the crisis escalates, more sanctions would unfold, leading up to an embargo on trade.

23.   Individual ministers warned the current crisis could only escalate if Israel did not make concessions to reach an accommodation with the Palestinians at the Washington summit.

24.   Egypt warned the crisis could escalate further in the next few days, and other Arab countries condemned the Iraqi manoeuvres.

25.   Powell and Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfield have been in almost daily contact with Musharraf as the crisis escalates, it said.

26.   The official APP news agency said Powell and Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfield have been in almost daily contact with Musharraf as the crisis escalates.