51.   But the home ministry refused to comment on whether police knew in advance of the move.

52.   But the ministry refused to sanction the offer because of frosty inter-Korean relations, which worsened following the incursion by a North Korean submarine in September.

53.   But Seurat demanded if the Lebanese justice ministry would refuse to deal with a formal application for evidence from a French court.

54.   The ministry refused to comment on the reported expulsion of Pakistani diplomats.

55.   The ministry refused to renew the residence permit of Mrs. Shakaki, who is from annexed East Jerusalem.

56.   The ministry refused to say exactly where in southern Britain the bat had been found, and was unable to say whether it had bitten anyone.

57.   The paper said the Polish defence ministry refused to sell the tanks because it did not want to be seen favouring the Moslems.

58.   The reports also said the Chinese defence ministry had refused all comment on the exercise.

59.   The South Korean defense ministry meanwhile refused to comment on reports that North Korea had conducted a short-range naval missile test in late March.

60.   There was no immediate claim of responsibility and the interior ministry refused to pin the attack on any specific group.