71.   U.N. mediators Friday prodded a reluctant Yasser Arafat to attend a U.S.-led Mideast summit, but violence persisted despite worldwide pleas for a truce.

72.   Three security personnel and two guerrillas have been killed in the ethnic war that has persisted despite efforts to restart peace talks, officials said Monday.

73.   When the pain persisted despite medication, Mitterrand was subjected to a series of analysis that revealed a possible infection of the prostate, Dr. Gubler writes.

74.   Women occupy a shrinking number of seats in legislatures worldwide, an indication that discrimination persists despite some progress in promoting equality, female lawmakers said Sunday.

75.   Fighting eased in Kigali on Thursday but sporadic gunfire persisted despite a ceasefire announcement, and Rwandan rebels assailed a threatened military intervention by France.

76.   Her irregular heartbeat has persisted despite the surgery.

77.   Families started returning to the homes they abandoned in a mass evacuation after the gas leak but fears persisted despite assurances by experts that the danger was over.

78.   Fears of higher interest rates have been so tenacious that they persist despite economic figures showing economic growth with modest price hikes.

79.   The United States has also recently voiced concern about security in Haiti in particular political killings that have persisted despite elections and the return of democratic rule.

80.   The weakness persists despite optimistic forecasts from OPEC ministers that prices will improve by one to two dollars this year.