United Nations efforts to heal the wounds of war are also faltering as agreements unravel in El Salvador, Somalia and Cambodia.

By invalidating key parts of the hard-fought merger agreements, city officials said, the bill could cause the agreements to unravel altogether.

But she cautioned that any agreement could unravel.

If this continues, the agreement could unravel.

The Palestinian leader said agreements between Israel and the Palestinians might unravel without some change in the settlement decision.

Despite the squabble that has broken out this week, the chance the entire agreement will unravel is small.

This agreement will unravel, however, if Mr. Allawi is serious about recreating old Iraqi units.

Asked whether it was possible that the agreement would totally unravel, he replied, "I cannot exclude the possibility."

The agreement could yet unravel, given the legacy of volatility, but Ms. Dell'Orto said she hoped to have an agreement in several weeks.

An similar agreement last October to export its uranium rods to France eventually unravelled.