81.   The violence comes on top of a nine-year Islamic insurgency marked by daily attacks and killings.

82.   The violence has come amid increasing religious tensions fueled in part by Muslim migration to the islands, which have long had a Christian majority.

83.   The violence in Wisu came as local military and civilian leaders tried to mediate a meeting between a pro-Indonesian group and supporters of independence.

84.   The surge in violence came as an independent group of militants renewed their threat to kill five Western hostages.

85.   The violence also came after the latest attempt by Egypt to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts appeared to have ended in failure.

86.   The violence came a day after extremists fired at a passenger train in the South, killing a police guard and wounding another.

87.   The violence came as a senior U.S. envoy, William Burns, met with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres to try to cement a fragile cease-fire.

88.   The violence came as anger over the collapse of high-risk investment schemes has turned into anti-government sentiment.

89.   The violence came as Israeli and PLO negotiators made a final attempt to meet a Saturday deadline for reaching agreement on expanding Palestinian self-rule to the West Bank.

90.   The violence came as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon prepared to leave for the United States for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush and other officials.