21.   France on Wednesday carried out the fifth in its current series of underground nuclear tests at its Mururoa site in the South Pacific, the defence ministry said.

22.   Government forces ambushed a group of Tamil Tiger guerrillas in north-eastern Sri Lanka, killing four rebels, the defence ministry said Thursday.

23.   Government troops ambushed rebel Tamil guerrillas in eastern Sri Lanka, killing at least two of them, the defence ministry said in a statement here Wednesday.

24.   Greek soldiers set fire to a Turkish flag flying among those of all NATO countries inside the Greek defence ministry, an official source said Thursday.

25.   Georges also worked at the defence ministry under the previous government of former prime minister Robert Malval.

26.   German Defence Minister Volker Ruehe will meet his French counterpart, Charles Millon, in Bonn next Monday, the German defence ministry announced Wednesday.

27.   Government forces sank a flotrilla of seven Tamil guerrillas boats in northern Sri Lanka where fresh ground battled killed nine people, the defence ministry said Wednesday.

28.   Government forces Sunday captured Kilinochchi town, the final bastion of Tamil Tiger guerrillas in northern Sri Lanka after heavy fighting, the defence ministry said.

29.   Government troops also recaptured the town of Shabunda which was taken by the rebels on Thursday, a statement issued by the defence ministry said.

30.   He is also to meet Belgian Defence Minister Andre Flahaut, after which a military agreement between their respective defence ministries will be signed, Interfax said.