11.  Foreign Ministry spokesman Richard Duque said France has agreed with Washington on a firm response to the Serb action.

12.  But he underlined that any attack on IFOR troops or breach of the peace accords would be met with a very firm response.

13.  Diplomats said that Washington was arguing that a firm response must be issued to prevent Iraq from carrying out further flights during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

14.  Japan gave a firm response to the US threat of sanctions to open up the Japanese auto market.

15.  No firm NATO response was expected on Tuesday, since the decision is a political one which must be decided by a NATO council of foreign ministers.