1.   And the morning after the tunnel was opened, he flew off to Europe to pursue an itinerary aimed at persuading European leaders of his commitment to peace.

2.   Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso said he persuaded his leader in the lower congressional house not to resign, averting a crisis in his governing coalition.

3.   Clinton is hopeful that the Israeli leader can be persuaded to compromise.

4.   He spent much of his time in that post trying to persuade foreign leaders to supplant fields of opium poppies in their countries with crops not used for narcotics.

5.   Still, there was no sign that the Russian leader had been persuaded.

6.   That declaration caught Brazil by surprise and clearly irritated President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, who was in Europe trying to persuade leaders there to provide more support to Argentina.

7.   China urged anew Tuesday restraint over Kosovo as a U.S. envoy tried to persuade Yugoslav leaders to accept a peace plan for the province and avert NATO airstrikes.

8.   Even if Bush persuades European leaders of the benefits of the system, he faces an uphill battle in Congress, particularly after the Democratic takeover of the Senate.

9.   Government officials have been trying to persuade business leaders not to strike.

10.   Mubarak also said he tried to persuade Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Saturday to see what he can do to work further with the Israelis.