51.   Amid the flurry of diplomatic activity, the president tried for a second straight day to prepare Americans for the possibility of a long standoff.

52.   Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity since, President Clinton was to meet Tuesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose officials have been drawing up proposals over Jerusalem.

53.   Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity, President Clinton spoke to Barak and Arafat by phone trying to cobble together a summit.

54.   Annan, meanwhile, thanked Putin for his diplomatic activity.

55.   And in Moscow, the other center of diplomatic activity, Russian envoy Viktor Chernomyrdin abruptly canceled meetings with foreign officials.

56.   Arafat has been engaging in a flurry of diplomatic activity to win Palestinian support for its uprising against Israel.

57.   At home, meanwhile, Netanyahu has engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity.

58.   Barak pressed ahead Wednesday with diplomatic activity aimed at reassuring world leaders that the peace process will be back on track.

59.   Before leaving for Atlanta, Bush continued diplomatic activity, meeting with Brazilian Preisdent Fernando Henrique Cardoso and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

60.   Both Russia and the United States stepped up their diplomatic activity in the past week.