21.  The moderate states in the Middle East are becoming alarmed.

22.  The other would be the more moderate Muslim state in northern and central Afghanistan that seemed to be foreshadowed by the pact on Thursday.

23.  The prospects of fresh Israeli-Palestinian fighting could undermine U.S. efforts to sustain the support of moderate Arab states for its anti-terror coalition and the war in Afghanistan.

24.  The secretary said that he may not have an easy time persuading the moderate Arab states about the need to tighten some sanctions against Hussein.

25.  The Saudis and other moderate Arab states want the summit meeting to conclude with a streamlined vision of peace.

26.  The tender ties with moderate Arab states froze, and feelers to Syria produced nothing.

27.  The Washington-based consultant refused to be quoted by name but confirmed he worked Democratic telephones in Pennsylvania, a famously moderate state, while Reed worked Republicans.

28.  To influence the Palestinians, the Bush administration has been aggressively lobbying leaders of moderate Arab states of Jordan, Egypt, Saudia Arabia, and Morocco.

29.  Tunisia may follow a similar path in a few months, they say, adding that they have also talked with moderate Persian Gulf states.

30.  Washington has indicated that it wants moderate Arab states to convince Arafat that he needs to take a more high-profile role in stopping suicide bombings.