81.   The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers were to meet later Wednesday to try to smooth the way for those talks.

82.   The Palestinian Authority released a leading Islamic militant, smoothing the way for an agreement with the Hamas movement that Yasser Arafat hopes will halt attacks on Israel.

83.   The timing suggested Beijing was anxious to smooth the way for Blair, who is making the first visit by a British prime minister in seven years.

84.   This closely watched case also will smooth the way for similar lawsuits involving same-sex harassment charges.

85.   They are intended to smooth the way for what are bound to be difficult negiotiations to bring the outsiders into the union.

86.   U.S and Russian defense ministers arrived Saturday for talks aimed at easing tensions over Bosnia and smoothing the way for a bilateral summit later this month.

87.   U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry plans to visit Japan for two days of talks to help smooth the way for President Clinton, officials said Tuesday.

88.   Amrollahi called for the cessation of all tests to smooth the way towards the hoped-for signing of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty next year.

89.   Assistant Secretary of State Winston Lord left China Thursday after a four-day trip aimed at smoothing the way for the Christopher visit.

90.   British troops worked Tuesday to smooth the way for the force after Afghan and British officials Monday reached final agreement on its deployment in the war-battered capital.