61.   U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday to reduce tensions by easing the closure of Palestinian territories.

62.   Two black lawmakers and a leading black lawyer said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Condon was provoking tension by drawing race into a debate on crime.

63.   Wahid also tried to defuse tensions by not going ahead with the installation of a new police chief.

64.   He also ruled out any confrontation between Turkey and Syria, which has accused its northern neighbour Ankara of provoking tension by signing a military accord with Israel.

65.   Beijing responded to the growing tensions by ordering a major religious crackdown last year, targetting underground schools and mosques that promote separatist sentiment.

66.   But in May parliament, where the presidential party has a majority, eased tensions by voting for a large measure of local and regional autonomy.

67.   China already takes part in an Indonesian-sponsored informal workshop aimed at defusing tension by promoting cooperation among litoral states in the disputed area.

68.   But the Palestinians blamed Israel, saying it had escalated tensions by killing Raed al-Karmi of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade on Monday.

69.   But the Palestinians blamed Israel, saying it had escalated tensions by killing Raed al-Karmi of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.

70.   But the Palestinians blamed Israel, saying it had escalated tensions by killing Raed al-Karmi of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.