51.   The North Korean leader was rumored to be meeting Friday in Shanghai with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, but official spokesmen would not confirm that.

52.   The official spokesman for the army has put out a statement categorically denying all these allegations.

53.   France will reveal Wednesday a blueprint for its anticipated closer cooperation with NATO which includes proposed far-reaching reforms for the western military alliance, an official spokesman said.

54.   Government forces repelled a night attack on Kabul by the Taliban religious militia from the east and southwest, an official spokesman told AFP Thursday.

55.   However, an official Hezbollah spokesman denied the report.

56.   However, an official spokesman said Gosatomnadzor was very concerned about the security of nuclear military sites and storage of nuclear waste from submarines.

57.   In Sanaa, an official spokesman said Tuesday that northern troops had captured Mukalla and Rayyan airport, adding that several Sukhoi and MiG fighter planes were seized.

58.   Interior Minister Ernst Strasser traveled here from Vienna to sign the agreement, an official spokesman said.

59.   A column of government troops has seized the eastern Ningarhar provincial capital of Jalalabad, an official spokesman said here Wednesday.

60.   A column of Afghan government troops has seized the eastern Ningarhar provincial capital of Jalalabad, an official spokesman said here Wednesday.