31.   But the United States and its allies have kept their forces in the area in order to make sure Iraqi President Saddam Hussein complies with the deal.

32.   But the two countries have kept their forces in the Gulf to ensure that the palace inspections take place.

33.   But there were differences of opinion on the Kosovo peace keeping force, charged with overseeing refugee returns and security after any peace agreement.

34.   But they do not keep ground forces in the region and are not committed to halting internal Kurdish fighting, the reason Iraq gave for its offensive.

35.   French soldiers in the Bosnian capital were pressing ahead with plans to keep forces apart and enforce a peace deal.

36.   He added the United States would be vigilant in ensuring Iraq is not renewing weapons production and would keep its forces in the Gulf.

37.   However, the Germans have been returning refugees to Kosovo and Bosnia over the past several months, citing NATO peace keeping forces there as having stopped the war.

38.   In an effort to keep the forces in place, the United States and France proposed the urgent meeting of allied military chiefs in The Hague.

39.   In exchange, the rebels offered to stop military activities and to keep their forces out of towns.

40.   In July, the United Nations voted to keep the force for another six months but made clear it wants to end the mission as quickly as possible.