41.   Visiting reporters have been staying there since a militant group kidnapped six Western hostages in early July.

42.   According to eye-witness accounts reported in the Algerian media, armed fundamentalist groups have repeatedly kidnapped young women to force them into such unions.

43.   At present, four HAMAS activists remain in Palestinian jails, down from scores held in October after the group kidnapped an Israeli soldier.

44.   The Norwegian daily Verdens Gang reported Monday that the guerrilla group ELN had kidnapped Vatne.

45.   The same Chechen guerrilla group kidnapped a Grozny police chief in November, Interfax said.

46.   Palestinian police freed another nine suspected HAMAS activists Sunday, held after the group kidnapped an Israeli soldier.

47.   PLO chief Yasser Arafat met Wednesday with leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement HAMAS in an effort to find an Israeli soldier the group has kidnapped.

48.   The group kidnapped another tourist, American Bela Josef Nuss, who was freed in a rescue operation a day earlier.