31.   The ministry gave the go-ahead this time around, but the event has met with considerable opposition from powerful conservative and religious groups.

32.   The ministry would not give any additional details.

33.   The ministry would not give specifics of the incident, but newspapers said Reini resisted police who had been called to his house by his wife after a brawl.

34.   The Kuwait foreign ministry gave no further details of the incident.

35.   The ministry did not give specific target figures, but said costs should be brought in line with other industrialized nations.

36.   The ministry gave no further details about the case.

37.   The ministry gave no further details, but officials speaking on condition of anonymity said rebel artillery and mortar fire inflicted casualties on the advancing troops.

38.   The ministry gave no other details.

39.   The ministry gave no reason for the sharp increase in the trade deficit.

40.   The ministry did not give any further details.