31.   A French offshore bank owner wanted by the United States for alleged money laundering has fled the Caribbean country of St. Vincent, the prime minister has confirmed.

32.   A new report by Senate investigators already has led to the closing of some offshore banks identified as high-risk.

33.   A large number of Yugoslav offshore banks and other businesses operate in Cyprus, and the new sanctions are likely to have a serious effect on them.

34.   Among other things, the Treasury Department wants the power to ask American companies to collect data on all kinds of transactions with an offshore bank or financial company.

35.   Antigua, which has been tarred with allegations of drug-related corruption, shut down five offshore Russian banks last year under U.S. pressure.

36.   An American lawsuit aims to force an offshore Caribbean bank to surrender millions in drug profits.

37.   And he is proposing to prohibit offshore banks from accepting cash deposits and require them to report suspicious clients.

38.   As the offshore banks serve a global market, the loans portfolio was well diversified in the region.

39.   Because many offshore banks operate without any real address, it was not immediately possible to obtain comment from the banks on Friday.

40.   Bowing to pressure from the international community, the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru has passed a law aimed at preventing criminal gangs laundering money through its offshore banks.