31.   Israel has offered only a phased withdrawal and wants Syria to outline its plans for future relations with Israel.

32.   Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed to the phased withdrawal at a late-night meeting of his top Cabinet ministers.

33.   Israeli security Cabinet agrees to begin a phased withdrawal from West Bank towns invaded recently if Palestinians observe cease-fire, aide to prime minister says.

34.   NATO officials said Friday that no phased withdrawal was in the works, and that the lower force level did not limit effectiveness.

35.   Nigeria, growing weary of the expense and casualties, has already said it will begin a phased withdrawal of its troops from Sierra Leone sometime this year.

36.   Nigeria will begin a phased withdrawal of its troops from the embattled country of Sierra Leone later this year, the defense chief has said.

37.   Pakistan on Tuesday proposed talks with India on a mutual phased withdrawal of troops along the border to be followed by a dialogue on Kashmir and other issues.

38.   President Boris Yeltsin announced that Russian combat operations in the breakaway region of Chechnya would cease at midnight Sunday and the phased withdrawal of troops would begin.

39.   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied a newspaper report Friday that the Cabinet this weekend would be presented with a plan for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.

40.   President Boris Yeltsin announced that major military operations in the breakaway region of Chechnya would cease at midnight Sunday and the phased withdrawal of Russian troops would begin.