31.  The royal couple will spend Monday and Tuesday in Moscow, and Wednesday and Thursday in the former imperial capital, Saint Petersburg.

32.  The visit will also take the Fench official to the ancient imperial capital of Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.

33.  This region lies around the Bay of Osaka and comprises the ancient imperial capital of Kyoto and the port of Kobe.

34.  Will provide coverage Russia-Croatia SAINT PETERSBURG Croatian President Stipe Mesic continues three-day visit to Russia with a trip to former imperial capital of Saint Petersburg.

35.  Kobe emerged as a major port during the eighth century when nearby Nara served as the imperial capital before it was shifted to Kyoto.

36.  Meanwhile, behind the scenes in the ancient imperial capital he and Wang dropped the hatchet.

37.  On Sunday, the princess was due to meet Prime Minister Phan Van Khai before moving on to the former imperial capital of Hue on Monday.

38.  Peter the Great chose the spot as the starting-point of the city, his new imperial capital which supplanted Moscow for two centuries.

39.  The fire came just ahead of a visit by UNESCO officials who are to declare the former imperial capital a world heritage site.