21.   Efforts to gain their release are still being considered.

22.   It forced Israel to free a number of Palestinian prisoners in order to gain the release of the secret agents, whom Jordanian police had arrested.

23.   McCain was asked whether he would have negotiated with hijackers as the Indian government did to gain the release of airliner hostages.

24.   Meanwhile, negotiations were still continuing to gain the release of two Germans, officials said.

25.   Negotiators said talks, which gained the release of a ninth hostage Tuesday, could go on for days.

26.   Officials have said they hope to gain the release of Martin and Gracia Burnham, of Wichita, Kansas, and Philippines nurse Deborah Yap by Christmas.

27.   North Korea claims Washington apologized as a concession to gain the release of American pilot Bobby Hall.

28.   Officials have said they hope to gain the release of Martin and Gracia Burnham, of Wichita, Kansas, and Philippine nurse Deborah Yap, by Christmas.

29.   Seeking to gain the release of three captured U.S. soldiers, U.S. civil rights leader Jesse Jackson met Saturday with Yugoslav officials including President Slobodan Milosevic.

30.   Seeking to gain the release of three captured U.S. soldiers, U.S. civil rights leader Jesse Jackson prepared to meet Saturday with Yugoslav officials including President Slobodan Milosevic.