61.   Tensions had been on the rise in Slavonia since the Croatian offensive, coupled with a worrying buildup of Yugoslav army forces just across the border.

62.   The agreement, reached at the first talks between Croats and rebel Serbs since a Croatian offensive against the Serbs in August,

63.   That fighting left the town of Pakrac divided until this week, when a surprise Croatian offensive cut off thousands of Serbs on their side of Pakrac.

64.   Tensions had been on the rise in Slavonia since the Croatian offensive, exacerbated by a worrying buildup of Yugoslav army forces just across the border.

65.   The capital Zagreb was hit on two successive days last week in retaliation for the Croatian offensive.

66.   The Croatian offensive aimed to seize a section of the key Zagreb-Belgrade highway and isolate one of the four large chunks of territory held by Serb rebels.

67.   The Croatian offensive effectively left the insurgents only a swath of eastern Croatia bordering Serbia, and could draw the Serb-led Yugoslav army back into the war.

68.   The Croatian offensive in northwestern Bosnia has harmed rebel Serb forces but risks widening the war, Defense Secretary William Perry and his British counterpart said Monday.

69.   The Croatian Serbs had hoped in vain for support from Serbia in the wake of the Croatian offensive.

70.   The Croatian offensive aimed to isolate one of the four large chunks of territory held by Serb rebels.