The minister did not address the issue of asylum directly, including press reports that at least two senior Iraqi biological scientists sought by the United States are in Syria.

He said that ministers had in addition addressed the internal situation in Iraq; the problems of Afghanistan and Lebanon were also reportedly discussed.

This coming weekend, rabbis and ministers will address Holocaust themes in their sermons and, in some communities, they will switch pulpits for the weekend.

President Vicente Fox of Mexico and Germany's foreign minister, Joschka Fischer, also addressed the group.

The minister addresses the congregation, performing all the rights which will have been rehearsed beforehand.

The British are America's best friends; their prime minister, Tony Blair, addressed Congress last week.

It was the first time since January 2001, he said, that an Israeli prime minister and a Palestinian president had addressed fundamental issues.

From this pulpit, the minister could address the women in the hofje.

It is most likely that it will discuss this further at future meetings and ministers will also address the problem in other Council formations.

The prime minister addressed parliament to calm nerves.