1.   Both strong statements came equipped with an asterisk.

2.   The statement came a day before the IMF mission is scheduled to leave Russia.

3.   The statement came as President Clinton affirmed his desire to see the peace process move forward.

4.   The statement came as Tokyo announced it was resuming food aid to the communist country.

5.   The statements came as Israel Sunday cancelled proposed peace talks and continued a series of stepped-up incursions into Palestinian-controlled territory.

6.   His statement came as NATO discussed the worsening situation in Kosovo, following reports of fierce fighting and thousands of refugees on the move in the province.

7.   His statement came as U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to seek support for military action against Iraq.

8.   His statement came shortly before a British rescue team arrived at the site with an advanced mini-submarine.

9.   His statement came as resolve by Western countries to condemn Beijing appeared to be flagging.

10.   Its statement came as Egypt was preparing to put on trial an Israeli-Arab and an Egyptian accused of spying for the Jewish state.