11.   Powell floated the idea of a provisional Palestinian state last week.

12.   Powell raised the possibility of a provisional state for the Palestinians as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was arriving home after talks in Washington and London.

13.   Powell said the United States is consulting other nations about setting up a provisional Palestinian state.

14.   Palestinian officials, meanwhile, said they have not heard officially from Washington about reports that President Bush is considering proposing a provisional Palestinian state.

15.   Palestinian officials, meanwhile, said they have not heard officially from Washington about reports that U.S. President George W. Bush is considering proposing a provisional Palestinian state.

16.   President Carlos Flores Facusse declared a provisional state of emergency Saturday in Honduras because of the flooding and droughts caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

17.   Peres said the concept was similar to the idea of a provisional state for the Palestinians, raised this week by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

18.   After completing political and economic reform, Bush said, the Palestinians could move toward a provisional state, and then full statehood.

19.   Bush was said to be considering backing a provisional Palestinian state on some West Bank and Gaza land.

20.   Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher dismissed the idea of creating a provisional Palestinian state.