31.   The Pentagon says the explosion caused a mechanical problem and the pilot aborted his mission and returned to base.

32.   Zinni returned to the region on Thursday, for a four-day trip, after his previous mission was aborted in December amid a surge of violence.

33.   In Paris, a foreign ministry spokesman said France had a role in aborting the mission.

34.   An IFOR statement said later that the mission had been aborted before the patrol reached its destination.

35.   Bad weather forced NATO warplanes to abort missions over the UN-protected Bihac enclave Friday and return to base without firing a shot, a military spokesman said here.

36.   Unfavourable weather caused rescue missions to be aborted on the following two days.