31.   Georgian leader Eduard Shevardnadze on Monday accused a banned paramilitary group of murdering five people.

32.   He did not address demands for the release of others not accused of being involved in killings, including members of banned militant groups.

33.   He had been imprisoned because of membership in a banned radical leftist group, but was released in February because of deteriorating health.

34.   Her husband, a member of another banned leftist group, is not on a hunger strike.

35.   Hundreds of members have been detained and dozens have been tried and sentenced for belonging to the banned group.

36.   However, the International Buddhist Information Bureau said the Hue petitioners were members of the government-sponsored Vietnam Buddhist Church, not the banned group.

37.   In a surprise move, an Uzbek court allowed four women charged with anti-constitutional activity as members of a banned Islamic group to walk free from the courtroom Friday.

38.   In December, a Chinese court sentenced to death Gong Shengliang, the leader of banned Christian group South China Church on the same charge.

39.   In the southern port city of Karachi, meanwhile, gunmen ambushed a police bus in a bid to free prisoners from three banned Muslim groups.

40.   Lai was sentenced last month for bringing thousands of Bibles to a banned Chinese Christian group in May.