41.   Eritrean forces took over Greater Hanish, the largest of the disputed islands, in a two-day battle last month.

42.   Eritrean forces took over Greater Hanish, the largest of the three disputed islands, in the fighting.

43.   Eritrea contends Yemen is making military preparations to try to force Eritrea to withdraw from a disputed island in the Red Sea.

44.   France has suggested both countries station troops on the disputed islands, Foreign Minister Abdul-Karim al-Iryani said.

45.   France, which has a large force stationed in neighboring Djibouti, is seen as the best country to monitor a cease-fire and military withdrawal from the disputed islands.

46.   Greece says Turkey should go to the International Court of Justice in the Hague for disputed islands in the region.

47.   In Beijing Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang evaded the issue of the Chinese and Taiwanese flags on the disputed islands.

48.   In a glancing reference to the disputed islands, the foreign ministers pledged China and Vietnam to reaching a permanent solution through peaceful negotiations.

49.   In April, Iran inaugurated a power plant on another disputed island at the mouth of the Gulf, Greater Tunb, which the UAE also claims.

50.   In Taipei, a Taiwanese politician said Sunday that Taiwanese and Hong Kong activists will try again next week to defy Japan and sail to the disputed island group.