11.   The State Department spokesman, James P. Rubin, argued Tuesday that this was not a reversal of position, or an evasion of the sanctions law.

12.   They argue that in the name of preserving a broader relationship with China, the Clinton administration is always leaping through loopholes in the sanctions laws.

13.   They suggested that the administration had violated sanctions laws and had failed to properly notify Congress of a significant international agreement.

14.   A Clinton administration official said Wednesday the United States was still trying to determine whether the deal violated U.S. sanctions law.

15.   But he added that Cuba would not underestimate the impact of the new sanctions law, which is meant to strangle the flow of foreign funds.

16.   Clinton is likely to run into objections in Congress, where supporters of the sanctions laws said they were absolutely critical to punish outlaw regimes.

17.   Europeans protest sanctions law.

18.   He said he supports the current sanctions law.

19.   The latest global furore over the US Iran-Libya sanctions law shows that Malaysia is not alone in firmly telling Washington not to try riding roughshod over others.

20.   The sanctions law, among other features, seeks to punish foreign investors who do business on property confiscated from Americans in the early years of the revolution.