11.   If the IRA continues to balk at a cease-fire, the talks will proceed nonetheless.

12.   In remarks to reporters after his meeting with Mubarak, Barak repeated his position that talks should proceed without preconditions.

13.   In January, a disarmament commission headed by Mitchell recommended that the talks proceed with simultaneous consideration of disarmament and political negotiations.

14.   In Kosovo itself, violence continues even as talks proceed.

15.   Newcrest said it would negotiate on a merger if the talks led to a binding agreement before a separate merger of the Normandy group proceeded.

16.   Nor has North Korea agreed to extend the freeze on its nuclear program while the talks proceed.

17.   Polling shows that most Israelis want talks to proceed, even though most expect little from them.

18.   Sinn Fein was admitted to the talks with the tacit understanding that this would happen as talks proceeded.

19.   Talks there had proceeded haltingly since Saturday.

20.   Talks are proceeding over payments in eight other cases, including that of the third student who died, officials said.