31.   Zack reached Panay island before midnight Saturday after cutting across Leyte, Bohol and Cebu, where it caused heavy flooding in low-lying areas.

32.   However, he demanded a withdrawal of government forces from the conflict zone in the north of the island before any talks.

33.   A Yemeni official vowed Monday that his country would retake the volcanic island before holding any negotiations.

34.   China, however, has insisted that any country which maintains official relations with Taiwan must cut its ties with the island before establishing diplomatic relations with China.

35.   Eritrea demanded Friday that both sides withdrew their troops from the Hanish archipelago of nine islands before taking their dispute to international arbitration.

36.   Elephants have crossed over to the island before.

37.   The UN chief is scheduled to inspect peacekeeping UNFICYP troops on the Green Line that runs across the island before leaving Cyprus for East Timor on Thursday.

38.   The UN chief is scheduled to inspect UNFICYP troops on the Green Line that runs across the island before leaving Cyprus for East Timor on Thursday.

39.   Yemen demanded Wednesday that Eritrea withdraw from a disputed Red Sea island before negotiations on its status can begin.

40.   Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh demanded Wednesday that Eritrea withdraw from a disputed Red Sea island before negotiations on its status can begin.