Substantial progress was made today. We feel that a deal is within reach.

[The United Nations on Sunday said the world had lost an important ambassador with Diana's death.] It is a tragic loss. Her commitment and dedication to a ban on anti-personnel mines brought the issue home to millions around the world, ... The international community has lost an important ambassador of goodwill. She will be missed.

We have set up an appointment for Mugabe to meet the secretary-general in Rome therefore we do expect him to be in Rome.

This is not so. In any case, the issue is not the executive chairman. It is how to get on with the work of disarming Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.

He (Annan) expects that what emerges from these talks, he will be able to sell to the (U.N.) Security Council.

verge of a breakthrough