41.   Ties between Taiwan and China have been strained since Lee made a private visit to the U.S. in June.

42.   Until last year, the United States discouraged even private visits by Taiwanese officials for fear of irritating China.

43.   U.S.-Sino relations have been strained since May when Clinton decided to permit Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui into the U.S. for a private visit.

44.   Yeltsin, on the second day of a three-day private visit to the region, said he was confident Chechen rebels would be defeated in two months.

45.   Ould Daddah was on a private visit to Saudi Arabia, and before that a trip to France, before his arrest, party officials said.

46.   Papoulias called Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milan Milutinovic, who was in Athens on a private visit.

47.   Ranariddh was in Singapore on a private visit Tuesday, and speculation arose that he wished to skirt controversy over the holiday.

48.   Ranariddh, who was toppled as co-prime minister in a bloody coup by Hun Sen last year, returned Monday from a private visit in Bangkok, Thailand.

49.   A Comoros Embassy spokesman said the president arrived in Cairo on Monday for a private visit.

50.   A private visit by Lee to the United States earlier this month touched off a row between Washington and Beijing.