1.   The government, led by conservatives, has been unwilling to join the talks.

2.   Both Labor and Conservatives have said Sinn Fein should not join talks until the IRA declares a firm end to its violent campaign to oust Britain from Northern Ireland.

3.   Adams visited with lawmakers for the first time since Sinn Fein was invited to join peace talks on Northern Ireland.

4.   Adams said he did not expect strident British unionist Ian Paisley to join the talks, but said he did expect Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble to join eventually.

5.   After initially indicating that he would join the talks, Barak stayed home, apparently to watch over events in Israel and the Palestinian territories.

6.   After the meeting Blair repeated his hope that the party would join the talks next Monday.

7.   But Clinton was carefully neutral on the central question of how quickly after a cease-fire Sinn Fein would be allowed to join the talks.

8.   But he said at the time he was watching the situation and would join the talks if he thought the timing was right.

9.   By September, Sinn Fein had joined the talks.

10.   Clinton might join the talks again Sunday, and the White House said another round of negotiations might be added tomorrow if there is no resolution.