51.   Tokyo dealings were lackluster, however, on the eve of Sports Day, a Japanese national holiday.

52.   Yasushi Akashi, former head of that mission and currently head of the Bosnia operation, is a Japanese national.

53.   Four other Japanese nationals and two unidentified Lebanese women were among those arrested, said the Lebanese officials who requested anonymity.

54.   Four other Japanese nationals and two unidentified Lebanese women were among those arrested, said the officials who requested anonymity.

55.   Fujita, a Japanese national, can refuse to go to the United States to be questioned.

56.   Hashimoto said Japan should be prudent because of alleged abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents, including a Japanese woman called Li Un-Hye.

57.   However, a Japanese diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP several Japanese nationals were being held by the Lebanese authorities.

58.   If allowed, Wakada will be the third Japanese national to fly on a US shuttle mission.

59.   Ikeda, who has since arrived in Peru, reiterated that Tokyo was putting priority on the safety of hostages, who include many Japanese nationals.

60.   In the meeting, Hashimoto thanked Germany for helping Japanese nationals evacuate from the recent unrest in Albania.