41.   The rival sides have however resolved that the status of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi will be decided outside the Lusaka agreement.

42.   US Trade Representative Mickey Kantor has said Washington will impose sanctions if the two sides have not resolved their dispute over government procurement by Friday.

43.   Vietnam reiterated its sovereignty over the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea on Monday but stressed that all sides involved should resolve the issue peacefully.

44.   Siew told reporters it was unlikely for the two sides to resolve their political disputes in the short term and they needed to increase negotiations to smooth things out.

45.   The chief government negotiator, Eduardo Ermita, said the two sides must first resolve issues relating to truce violations before Manila goes back to the negotiating table.