61.   Well-armed tribal fiefdoms have made it difficult for the Yemeni government to impose the rule of law in Marib province.

62.   Yemeni government officials also were not available.

63.   Yemeni tribesmen have released a French diplomat they held hostage for two weeks, Yemeni government officials said Friday.

64.   Yemeni government opponents also live in Egypt, but it was not clear if Egypt had agreed to turn them over to Yemen.

65.   Forty-seven foreigners who were killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia were Yemenis on their way to being deported, a Yemeni government daily reported Saturday.

66.   France, which has spearheaded mediation efforts, proposed that Yemen and Eritrea sign an agreement in principle providing for negotiations, Yemeni government officials said.

67.   He said some government members were worried Islamic forces could take over the Yemeni government if the socialists do not return to balance the coalition government.

68.   A ministry spokeswoman said the kidnappers were apparently demanding from the Yemeni government a share of international aid provided after floods in the region last year.

69.   A Yemeni government newspaper, the Fourteenth of October, on Tuesday accused Eritrea of failing to withdraw its troops from Lesser Hanish by the time it had promised.

70.   A Yemeni government spokesman said his country wanted to settle the dispute peacefully.