31.   These informal gatherings were set up to make it easier for the French defence minister to participate in a NATO defence meeting.

32.   Twelve French nationals injured in a suicide bombing here have left hospital and will be evacuated to Paris later Thursday, a French defence ministry spokesman told AFP.

33.   Then Hastings kicked his first penalty and Townsend picked up and skipped through the French defence for a surprise try.

34.   It cited French defence ministry sources.

35.   It was a perfectly worked goal by striker Diouf who was posing all sorts of trouble for a suspect looking French defence.

36.   Late on Sunday, the French defence ministry said the Airbus should return to base at Evreux, west of Paris, following a final stop in Libreville.

37.   Larkham made the first break of the match and found centre Daniel Herbert in support before the French defence stopped the attack after six minutes.

38.   Meanwhile former French defence minister Francois Leotard warned Thursday against moving closer to NATO without obtaining guarantees from the United States.

39.   Meanwhile the French defence ministry refused to disclose a date or a time for the first test, saying it would be announced only after it had taken place.

40.   Mladic rejected proposals made by Janvier to secure the withdrawal of Serb heavy weapons from Sarajevo, the French defence ministry said in Paris.