11.   Before being appointed defence minister he was interior minister and used as a troubleshooter within the regime.

12.   Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko named Wednesday two aides as deputy prime minister and promoted the army chief of staff to defence minister, officials said.

13.   Citing Kandahar provincial government officials, Pakistan-based AIP said Obaidullah had turned himself in, but that he had never been defence minister.

14.   During the meeting, Chi, who is also defence minister, said China would maintain its independent diplomatic policy, Xinhua said, without eleborating.

15.   During his visit, Solana will meet with president Petru Lucinschi, the Moldovan prime minister, Ion Cebuc and the foreign affairs and defence ministers.

16.   During the visit, he will meet President Kiro Gligorov and Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, and the foreign and defence ministers Ljubomir Frckoski and Blagoj Handziski.

17.   Finnish and Irish defence ministers attended as observers.

18.   Former Chinese defence minister Qin Jiwei dies.

19.   The other deputy premier is Tony Tan who is also defence minister.

20.   The SLA is commanded by retired Lebanese army general, Antoine Lahd, who frequently received visits in Marjayoun by Rabin, a former Israeli defence minister.