21.   The attack came as the United Nations struggled to prevent the two-day offensive southeast of Zagreb from spilling over into a broad, new conflict.

22.   The attack came as troops were being massed at Paranthan to push further south from Kilinochchi town, said the officials who cannot be identified under briefing rules.

23.   The attack came three days before Arafat was to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to try and revive talks on expanding autonomy to the West Bank.

24.   The attacks came as fierce fighting raged in northern Sri Lanka where the guerrillas are battling an offensive by thousands of soldiers to capture Jaffna city.

25.   The attacks came as Israel was poised to pull its forces out of Bethlehem, as a test case for withdrawing from the other towns.

26.   The attacks came just hours after a two-week, nighttime curfew on the area was lifted.

27.   The attack came as children were anticipating a day off Saturday for the annual local iris festival.

28.   The attack came as fierce fighting raged in northern Sri Lanka where the guerrillas are battling an offensive by thousands of soldiers to capture their stronghold, Jaffna city.

29.   The attack came as Israel and the PLO were poised to sign an agreement on expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank.

30.   The attack came as Israel launched a diplomatic campaign for international backing for security arrangements with Lebanon before it withdraws its troops from the south.