But ministers from the new members expressed the hope that further compromise was possible.

Japanese press reports said the Prime Minister had not expressed a clear opinion.

Others said the Prime Minister, who is a former journalist and trade union leader, had expressed an interest in teaching.

Iraq's foreign minister, meanwhile, expressed support for a forceful response to continuing violence by insurgents.

Other Israeli ministers and lawmakers who spoke to the prime minister expressed similar impressions.

The ministers from Israel and Jordan expressed hope that their project would encourage other countries to work together, even under difficult circumstances.

Garrard and the other ministers apparently expressed no dissent against this provision.

Other ministers, such as David Cunliffe, expressed their support for a republic.

But several ministers expressed guarded optimism that the alliance was nearing consensus on the arms plan.

The minister expressed condolences, on behalf of all Canadians, to the families of those killed.