21.   The police said the incidents did not appear to be connected and occurred at random.

22.   The reported incident at Dvor appeared to have little effect on the relationship between Croatia and Bosnia, which signed a mutual cooperation agreement last month.

23.   The two incidents did not appear to be related.

24.   Ultimately, the incident appeared to be a tempest in a teapot.

25.   U.N. spokesman Eric Falt said the incident appeared to be a personal quarrel unrelated to politics.

26.   While the Louima incident appeared to have undercurrents of racial bigotry, Justin Volpe was not overtly prejudiced, friends and acquaintances said.

27.   Police are still investigating, but the incident appeared to be isolated, she said.

28.   A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said the incident did not appear to be tied to terrorism.

29.   All six were captured and police said the incident appeared unrelated to the hostage crisis.

30.   But this incident appeared far more serious and more highly charged because of the allied presence in Albania.