21.  Arafat called for an independent state before presenting Clinton to speak.

22.  Arafat, who has threatened to unilaterally declare an independent state if no agreement is reached by the September deadline, left the United States without issuing a statement.

23.  Arabs and Palestinians saw the affair as another indication that his government would never negotiate an agreement for an independent Palestinian state.

24.  Arafat also claims Jerusalem as the capitol of an independent Palestinian state, and he reaffirmed his position in Norway.

25.  Arafat has vowed to declare unilaterally an independent state at that point.

26.  Arafat threatened to declare Palestine an independent state if the settlements go up as planned.

27.  As a result, Oman can claim to be among the oldest independent sovereign Arab states in existence today.

28.  As a group, the Kurds have been agitating for an independent state for decades.

29.  As in the case of so many who were to become leaders of independent Caribbean states, he first tasted power and attained prominence as a labor leader.

30.  Basayev sought to oust the Russians and set up an independent Islamic state.