1.   While the public sighting of a gun did not provoke wide terror a century or so ago, no one seems to agree on just when things changed.

2.   It was only the second public sighting of the reclusive intelligence chief in seven years.

3.   Even when he is in the country, public sightings of Mobutu in Zaire are rare.

4.   Even when in the country, public sightings of Mobutu in Zaire are rare.

5.   There has been no public sighting of the western hostages for weeks.