1.   Though the president of Israel is supposed to serve as a largely ceremonial head of state, many races for the office have been hotly contested.

2.   Albright paid separate courtesy calls earlier Tuesday on President Kim Yong Nam, the ceremonial head of state, and the North Korean foreign minister, Paek Nam Sun.

3.   After the signing ceremony Mandela said he and Herzog had not discussed any political matters as both men act largely as ceremonial heads of state.

4.   Albright also paid courtesy calls Tuesday on President Kim Yong Nam, the ceremonial head of state, and the North Korean foreign minister, Paek Nam Sun.

5.   Barbados wants a referendum to end the British monarch being the ceremonial head of state, a move that could encourage similar actions by other former British colonies.

6.   Even former British territories are involved, with Barbados considering shedding a colonial hangover by dumping the queen as its ceremonial head of state.

7.   In Pakistan, the president is the ceremonial head of state.

8.   It is a first for troops from the Caribbean, where Britain has several former colonies that retain the queen as a ceremonial head of state.

9.   Kim Yong Nam serves as a ceremonial head of state for the isolated North.

10.   Kim, the ceremonial head of state, was invited by Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong.