1.   Both are leftwing groups that control large zones of the countryside after temporary peace deals with President Pastrana.

2.   He almost single-handedly brokered a peace deal with secessionist rebels in Chechnya last fall, thereby ending an inordinately bloody war.

3.   Hopes of a peace deal are fading.

4.   The two countries are trying to work out a peace deal with the whole world watching.

5.   Under the peace deal, men of military age should be allowed to cross the former front line boulevard starting next week.

6.   Even if the fighting has stopped, the peace deal is badly damaged.

7.   Americans would certainly be called upon to provide billions of dollars in military, economic and humanitarian aid to help cement any peace deal between Israel and Syria.

8.   Although it has parted company bitterly with the West over air strikes, Russia had fully supported the peace deal that Milosevic tore up last month.

9.   An additional irony is that Ariel would most likely remain in Israeli hands should a peace deal ever be reached.