71.   Education Minister Dave Johnson announced almost immediately the government will appeal the ruling and will ask the judge to suspend the decision pending the appeal.

72.   Fearing a backlash, the government appealed for calm on radio and television, but there were no immediate reports of fighting after the attack.

73.   Fearing a backlash, the government appealed for calm on radio and television, but there were no immediate reports of trouble following the attack.

74.   Fearing revenge attacks on Tamil civilians after the bombing, the government appealed on radio and TV for Sri Lankans to remain calm.

75.   Fearing a backlash, the government appealed for calm on radio and television, but there were no immediate reports of ethnic trouble following the attack.

76.   Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said the Australian government had appealed to the Yugoslav government to release the men immediately if they had been detained.

77.   Gregorio Rosal, a rebel spokesman, said the government could appeal that verdict but the captives could only be freed through negotiation.

78.   He did not say whether the government would appeal, but such a step was likely.

79.   He said the government would appeal.

80.   He said the government had appealed to the FBI for all relevant information about the case.