31.   Military action appeared increasingly likely with the news that U.S. special forces were already conducting scouting missions in Afghanistan.

32.   On the diplomatic front, support for U.S. action appeared to be solidifying.

33.   Russia begins withdrawing its troops from Chechnya, but the action appears largely symbolic.

34.   The action appeared to have settled into a standoff before the final assault, which erupted after the mid-day call to prayers.

35.   The action appeared to have cleared the way for a three-way meeting among Clinton, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

36.   The action appeared to thwart efforts by rival Telewest Communications PLC to strike a deal of its own with CWC.

37.   The action appeared to leave Fox little option but to ask the Senate again for permission or to cancel his visit north.

38.   The action appeared to head off Democratic attempts to order more stringent price controls through legislation.

39.   The action appeared to leave Fox little option but to try to persuade Senators to change their mind or cancel his visit north.

40.   The action appeared to show the increasingly aggressive measures by Greece to deal with the influx of illegal immigrants arriving by land and sea from neighboring Turkey.