1.   The bombing came a day after a leaflet signed by the armed wing of the militant Islamic group Hamas threatened renewed attacks on Israelis.

2.   The bombing came days after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement that created a framework for cooperative government.

3.   The bombing came just as the Palestinian leader, recognizing the adverse turn of events, indicated his desire to resume negotiations with Israel.

4.   The bombing came a day after the military wing of Hamas, a Palestinian group seeking the elimination of Israel, threatened to unleash a new wave of terror.

5.   The bombing came as Vice President Dick Cheney briefed President Bush at the White House on his recently concluded Mideast tour.

6.   The bombing came just two months after President Clinton made a triumphant visit to Northern Ireland, the first ever by a US president.

7.   The only claim of responsibility for the bombing came from a caller who said he represented an anti-American, anti-Israeli group called Muslims Against Global Oppression.

8.   Still, condemnation of the bombing came accompanied by a tenacious hope that peace can be salvaged.

9.   The bombing came a day after Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir paid a surprise visit Saturday to the provincial capital.

10.   The bombing came a day after three guerrilla attacks left one Israeli soldier dead and wounded five Israeli or Israeli-backed fighters.