41.   As efforts to gain political agreement gather pace, rocket and artillery strikes blamed by the government on the Taliban have continued to batter civilian areas of Kabul.

42.   But the largest US military deployments abroad since the start of the ongoing campaign in Afghanistan gathered pace here Tuesday with the arrival of more military equipment and personnel.

43.   But they agreed that rates would have to be increased if inflationary pressures grew and George suggested a tightening of monetary policy if the recovery gathered pace.

44.   Campaigns against entertainment expenses for bureaucrats have been gathering pace elsewhere in Japan.

45.   Even before the global economic downturn gathered pace they were struggling to cope with the strength of sterling, which makes their exports less competitive.

46.   Top government officials attempted Saturday to soothe growing anger among farmers as a controversial programme to wipe out all opium producing poppy crops gathered pace in eastern Afghanistan.

47.   US Middle East coordinator Dennis Ross on Wednesday briefed Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on his shuttle to Syria as peace moves gathered pace, Israeli officials said.

48.   US preparations gathered pace here Tuesday with the arrival of more military equipment and personnel from a US base in Okinawa, Japan.

49.   Meanwhile diplomatic efforts to prevent all-out war in the region gather pace.

50.   Meanwhile thousands of Afghans left for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca as last-minute international efforts gathered pace to transport them to Saudi Arabia.