11.   The French transport minister, meanwhile, urged pilots and management to return to the negotiating table.

12.   The French transport minister said he wanted both British and French authorities to OK the jet at the same time.

13.   The largest syndicate of truck company owners met with the French transport minister and said it would consult with its membership about joining new negotiations planned for Tuesday.

14.   The Portuguese evacuation plan relies on French military transport planes already in the region and two U.S. warships expected over the weekend, the daily Publico reported.

15.   The World Cup is being used as a bargaining chip by several French transport unions pushing for better salaries and schedules.

16.   French Transport Minister Bernard Pons said Thursday there were no plans to call in police to end nationwide protests by truckers paralyzing French transport.

17.   French junior transport minister Anne-Marie Idrac said that each set of relatives would be informed privately before any details were made public.

18.   A French navy transport ship is due to arrive in Beirut on Friday carrying aid supplies to Lebanon following the recent Israeli bombardments, the defence ministry said Thursday.

19.   A French military transport plane is standing by in Pakistan to help evacuate foreigners from the embattled Afghan capital Kabul, diplomatic sources said here Thursday.

20.   The pledge was secured in a telephone conversation between French junior transport minister Anne-Marie Idrac and British Transport Secretary George Young.