51.   A state security court on Monday convicted a Syrian dissident of weakening national unity and opposing the ruling Baath party and sentenced him to three years in jail.

52.   A state security court sentenced four leftist guerrillas to death Tuesday for the killing of a former justice minister.

53.   A state security court sentenced two Muslim militants to death on charges of subversion Monday, two years after another court found them not guilty in the same case.

54.   A state security court Thursday released pending trial an American and two other foreigners arrested earlier this month on charges of aiding and abetting Kurdish rebels.

55.   After meeting with Gore in this PLO-run desert oasis, Arafat said he would set up new state security courts.

56.   Among its recommendations was doing away with state security courts, staffed by military officers, accused by human rights groups of conducting quick, arbitrary trials.

57.   An alleged Egyptian militant appeared in a state security court Saturday, three years after he was extradited from the United Arab Emirates.

58.   Because the security court is a civilian court, the men can appeal.

59.   But human rights groups question whether a state security court, which includes military judges and perhaps prosecutors, can be fully impartial.

60.   But suspects convicted by the security court have no recourse to appeal.