1.  It was the European Union that inspired the British action, however.

2.  President George W. Bush said U.S. and British military action has begun in Afghanistan.

3.  But Zhao said before the session that the British action was meaningless.

4.  In Jerusalem, an aide to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called the U.S. and British action a step in the right direction.

5.  In Washington, President George W. Bush said U.S. and British military action had begun in Afghanistan.

6.  Jiang called on Clinton to halt any U.S. and British military action against Iraq to lay the groundwork for a diplomatic solution, state media reported.

7.  The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed concern Wednesday about missile exchanges and urged both sides to show restraint, stopping short of outright condemnation of the U.S. and British action.

8.  The spokeswoman, speaking on condition of anonymity, refused to give details or say if the British action amounted to an agreement to seize assets.

9.  We will update the Baghdad-dated BC-Iraq shortly with the U.S. and British military action in Iraq being suspended.

10.  Santer went on to issue a veiled threat of legal action if the British action continued.