91.   The government ruled last week against extraditing the five to Japan to stand trial on terrorism charges, and set up a committee to rule on their asylum request.

92.   The London-based human rights group also criticized procedures for dealing with asylum requests and conditions for asylum applicants held in detention centers.

93.   The new visa requirements were established to try to slow the asylum requests, the embassy said.

94.   The report attributed the decline to stricter laws adopted by several EU nations and cutbacks in entitlements for foreigners awaiting decisions on their asylum requests.

95.   The rebel leader is staying in a Rome villa under police surveillance while he awaits a decision on his asylum request.

96.   The State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service declined comment on her case, consistent with longstanding government policy on asylum requests.

97.   The three were released early Thursday and must stay in the Caribbean country until it makes a decision on their asylum request.

98.   There was no word on asylum requests from the others.

99.   There were significant shifts in asylum requests in Europe last year.

100.   They carried a petition addressed to Japanese Ambassador Taizo Watanabe detailing their asylum request.