21.   Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the agreement.

22.   Several power companies said they welcomed the agreement because it offered a flexible approach to reducing plant emissions.

23.   The agreement was welcomed by Rep. Henry Hyde, the Illinois Republican who had chaired impeachment hearings of the Judiciary Committee.

24.   The head of the United States delegation to the talks, Michael J. Matheson, welcomed the agreement and said it could result in a decrease in civilian casualties.

25.   Would-be competitors mainly welcomed the agreement.

26.   Outside the palace, several thousand people released balloons and honked horns to welcome the agreement.

27.   Prime Minister John Howard on Thursday welcomed the agreement between Indonesia and Portugal for the East Timor autonomy ballot and claimed credit as the catalyst for the settlement.

28.   Putin welcomed the agreement.

29.   -- Japanese business leaders welcomed the agreement at the Group of Seven summit to cooperate in stabilizing currency rates.

30.   Across the region, Arab leaders welcomed an agreement they believed would avert a military attack.