1.   Annan, visiting NATO allies at their headquarters here on Thursday, noted that the bloodshed in the former Yugoslavia carried some lessons.

2.   She later insisted on returning to the same region to visit political allies just as fruitless government peace talks with the rebels collapsed.

3.   His plane had been delayed by fog in China, where he stopped to visit an ally, Premier Zhu Rongji, and to avoid flying over Indian airspace.

4.   His plane was delayed by fog in China, where he had visited an ally, Premier Zhu Rongji, and also avoided flying over Indian airspace.

5.   Musharraf had stopped on the way to Nepal to visit longtime ally Premier Zhu Rongji and to avoid Indian airspace.

6.   Now visiting allies abroad, Vice President Lien Chan faces a growing controversy at home over a payment he made to a disgraced politician.

7.   Taiwan hoped that Lu could stop briefly in the Netherlands before visiting diplomatic ally Gambia in western Africa, a Taiwanese official told The Associated Press last week.

8.   The president plans to visit diplomatic allies Senegal, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe and Swaziland.