31.   The United States has also said it would press China to make sure the groups could participate in the conference.

32.   With the treaty, main opposition groups are now participating in the government and the armed forces.

33.   Yousef and other Hamas leaders said the group would participate in municipal elections that are to be held by the summer.

34.   French Prime Minister Alain Juppe said Monday that only legal political groups should participate in elections in Algeria.