1.   However, last month Iran retracted a similar letter its ambassador to Oslo sent to the Norwegian foreign ministry the previous summer.

2.   Last week, the Norwegian foreign ministry announced that a locally hired employee at its Teheran embassy was fired for issuing false visas to Norway.

3.   Kare Eltervaag, of the Norwegian foreign ministry, said Friday.

4.   On Sunday, Arafat is to make a stopover in Oslo, Norway, said Norwegian foreign ministry spokesman Ingvard Havnen.

5.   The Norwegian foreign ministry ordered families of its diplomatic staff in Pakistan to return home due to rising tensions in the region.

6.   The next round of peace talks between government representatives and communist rebels from the Philippines has been postponed until early next year, the Norwegian foreign ministry said Monday.

7.   The passengers on the flight included Anton Balasingham, the LTT negotiator, his wife Adele and a Norwegian foreign ministry official, the statement said.

8.   Gavahi had hinted in a letter to the Norwegian foreign ministry that his government could change its policy on the death edictt.

9.   Havnen said the Norwegian foreign ministry expected to continue talks with the Somaliland authorities to secure the release of the foreigners.

10.   In Oslo, the Norwegian foreign ministry said it was unable to comment about the kidnapping.