1.   But he refrained from condemning the assault, saying he understood that Israel had a right to defend itself after the suicide bombings.

2.   Neighborhood residents and others condemned the assault as misguided and senseless, and worried about its effect on the image of the city and the Central District.

3.   The assaults have been condemned in strong terms by President Mohammed Khatami, a relative moderate who commands broad popular support.

4.   The government of Pakistan, one of the few to recognize the Taliban regime, has condemned the assault.

5.   But the president stopped short of condemning the assault.

6.   He called on separatist negotiators to condemn the assault.

7.   In a statement, the Palestinian Authority condemned the assault on Asfour and called for the arrest of the attackers.

8.   In Washington, President Clinton warned of a wider war in the Balkans but stopped short of condemning the assault.

9.   Late Saturday, the Security Council condemned the assault but did not approve any use of force to save the town.

10.   NATO, the European Union and Russia also condemned the assault.