41.   The chief Western mediator is Christopher Hill, the U.S. ambassador to Macedonia who has been shuttling between the parties for months.

42.   The chief U.N. mediator, Mohamed Sahnoun, will leave Gabon for Burundi, Eckhard said.

43.   The Palestinian Cabinet convened Friday evening, just before Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat met with the chief U.S. Mideast mediator, Dennis Ross.

44.   The Palestinian Cabinet convened Friday evening, just before Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat met for three hours with the chief U.S. Mideast mediator, Dennis Ross.

45.   The rebel offer comes ahead of another round of cease-fire talks under auspices of Zambian president and chief African mediator in Congo, Frederick Chiluba.

46.   The rebel offer comes ahead of another round of cease-fire talks under auspices of Zambian president and chief African mediators in Congo, Frederick Chiluba.

47.   The request was made in a letter to former South African President Nelson Mandela, chief mediator of the peace process.

48.   The two delegations, accompanied by the chief mediator Christopher Hill, entered a Paris conference center Tuesday morning as the talks resumed for a second day.

49.   U.N. officials said the chief U.N. mediator, Mohamed Sahnoun, agreed to stay on in Libreville now that the two sides were finally talking.

50.   U.N. officials refused to discuss details of the talks, citing a news blackout imposed by chief U.N. mediator Diego Cordovez.