11.   In a Christmas Day message Thursday, President Boris Yeltsin congratulated all Russian Christians marking the holiday, his administration said.

12.   In Bucharest, traffic police stopped Friday many woman drivers to offer them flowers to mark the holiday.

13.   In Moscow, border guards marked their holiday by celebrating in the streets.

14.   In the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan, Soviet holidays are no longer marked and May Day was just a workday, the Interfax news agency said.

15.   In the past, Israel has released prisoners convicted of minor security offences to mark Muslim holidays.

16.   In the Central Asian country of Uzbekistan, Soviet holidays are no longer marked and May Day was just a work day, the Interfax news agency said.

17.   Muslim governments traditionally release prisoners or grant amnesties to mark the holiday.

18.   Pardons marking religious holidays are common in Muslim countries.

19.   Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto attended a ceremony marking the holiday, but steered clear of the date controversy.

20.   Religious holidays are often marked by a rise in violence.