1.   The agreement ended the arduous bargaining process between the two negotiating panels led by US envoy Richard Armitage and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Raul Manglapus.

2.   Hutchison said her plan might not be ideal, but might be the only way to break the logjam on the negotiating panel.

3.   Ramaker, a Dutch diplomat who chairs the treaty negotiating panel in the conference, said positions of major delegations had hardened in the past two weeks.

4.   Ramaker, a Dutch diplomat who chairs the treaty negotiating panel of the conference, said major delegations had hardened their positions in the past two weeks.

5.   A government negotiating panel met rebel leaders for their first round of talks to free the hostages last week.

6.   A government negotiating panel met rebel leaders for a first round of talks to free the hostages last week.

7.   A government statement said negotiating panels for the government and the rebels would decide which soldiers would be covered by the amnesty.

8.   All three have been appointed to a negotiating panel which hopes to soon stage formal talks with the rebels.

9.   Details on when and where the negotiating panel will meet have yet to be settled.

10.   Dutch diplomat Jaap Ramaker, who is chairing the negotiating panel, said he would advise the conference by Friday on developments.