31.   However the long queues that marked the opening of polls in the two previous ballots were absent.

32.   In a speech on Saturday marking the opening of the municipal election campaign, President Omar Bongo said that there was no question of postponing the polls.

33.   Israeli President Ezer Weizman marked the opening of direct international telephone links with Jordan Sunday by calling King Hussein to invite him to Jerusalem.

34.   A government announcement said the ceremony to mark the opening of the talks planned for the Casamance capital of Zuiginchor had been postponed until circumstances permitted.

35.   Angry protests against Nazi war crimes marked the opening of a meeting of shareholders in the chemical firm of IG Farben Wednesday.

36.   Cold but sunny conditions marked the opening of play, but a feared morning frost never materialized and officials expected the first round to be completed before sunset.

37.   Eliasson will then make a brief visit to Lebanon to mark the opening of the Swedish embassy in Beirut.

38.   The sale marked the opening of the largest store in the Nike Japan Corp. chain, the Japanese subsidiary of the US sporting goods maker.

39.   The US president was also scheduled to meet Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and British Prime Minister John Major before the dinner marking the opening of the summit.

40.   Weekend celebrations to mark the opening of a new Vietnamese tourist site ended in tragedy when a bridge collapsed crushing two children to death, officials said Monday.