61.   Veteran conductor Jeffery Craig Papp tried to defuse the tension by issuing apologies for the screwup of the Joint Powers Board.

62.   When comments generated heated outbursts, the tension was typically defused with humorous asides.

63.   Opposition Independence Party leader Oscar Temaru spoke on the pro-independence radio station asking protesters to return home peacefully, after he helped defuse tensions at the airport.

64.   Other African leaders have sought to defuse tensions between the two neighbors.

65.   Pakistan has asked the United Nations to send an envoy to try to defuse tensions in the region.

66.   Pakistan has offered talks with India to defuse tensions and prevent an all-out war between these two newest nuclear powers, which conducted underground nuclear explosions one year ago.

67.   Pakistan has said repeatedly it would be willing to meet with India and that tension should be defused through talks.

68.   Paris had urged Butler to visit Baghdad as soon as possible to defuse tensions before another showdown with President Saddam Hussein.

69.   Political and religious tensions have been defused between the majority Hindus and minority Muslims.

70.   Pakistan has asked the Arab League to intervene to defuse the tensions with India, a Pakistani envoy and former president said Thursday.