11.   Soldiers remained in Bethlehem and parts of Ramallah on Monday, and maintained tight blockades around the other West Bank towns.

12.   For the past week the Israeli army has maintained a blockade of the Gaza Strip and Palestinian towns in the West Bank.

13.   The southern border, with Georgia, is closed, and a sea and air blockade is maintained against most goods.

14.   Ratsiraka -- who had maintained the blockade -- refused to accept the validity of the poll.

15.   Russia has maintained a blockade of sorts on Abkhazia over the past year, but ships have been allowed to bring in supplies from Turkey.