51.   Barak secured U.S. backing for the withdrawal in his Washington meetings with Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

52.   Balloting went ahead despite the attempted withdrawal in the past week of the two challengers, Muzorewa and the Rev. Ndabaningi Sithole.

53.   Bush gave Russia six-months notice of the withdrawal in December.

54.   But a senior U.N. offical reported that the government had accepted a complicated method of monitoring troop withdrawals in a move that could ease tensions over the demilitarized zone.

55.   But the Palestinians want a broader package resolving other issues, like a further Israeli West Bank withdrawal in the West Bank and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

56.   But several such withdrawals in the past have turned out to be nothing more than troops rotations.

57.   Davar said the rabbis urged religious Israelis not to obey government instructions concerning a future troop withdrawal in the West Bank and the possible uprooting of Jewish settlements.

58.   Erekat said they also will talk to Ross about Israeli troop withdrawals in the West Bank stipulated in the Oslo agreements.

59.   Erekat said the second item to be discussed with Ross would be the Israeli troop withdrawals in the West Bank stipulated in the Oslo agreements.

60.   Erekat told The Associated Press the Palestinians were given to understand that Barak was willing to resume the phased troop withdrawal in September.