21.   It was unclear, however, who would represent the warring sides or whether they would try to observe the truce.

22.   Japan has asked U.N. member countries to observe a truce during the Olympics.

23.   Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has alleged that Arafat was never serious about observing a truce.

24.   No motive was given, but discontented bands of soldiers from both armies that are supposed to be observing a truce have staged armed assaults for personal gain.

25.   Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has demanded that Hamas and other militant groups observe the truce, but they have refused to endorse it.

26.   Police have uncovered a weapons factory near Belfast that apparently supplied Protestant gunmen, currently observing a truce.

27.   Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, said Israel was never serious about observing a truce.

28.   Russian negotiator Arkady Volsky confirmed that Russian forces also would observe the truce.

29.   Saidov said it was unclear whether opposition forces were observing the truce.

30.   The Islamic militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which have carried out a series of suicide bombings in Israel, have said they would not observe the truce.