1.   Annan refused to be drawn on the sovereignty debate Thursday.

2.   Deputy U.S. Ambassador Peter Burleigh countered the sovereignty debate, saying military force is sometimes needed to contain humanitarian catastrophes.

3.   He said financial markets are for now paying little attention to the sovereignty debate in Quebec, but this could change as soon as a referendum date is announced.

4.   Landry, who will become Quebec premier on Thursday, has promised to be forthright with the rest of the country in pumping up the sovereignty debate.