The remaining 440 places are parcelled out among political parties, civil-rights groups, tribes and (of course) the entire 100-member preparatory committee, ensuring broad-based representation.

ECONOMIST: Onward, Muslim soldiers? | The

In Hong Kong, the authorities have set up a preparatory committee on Chinese medicine to pave the way for the licensing and registration of traditional practitioners.

CNN: SPECIAL REPORT: HEALTH

The Intergovernmental Preparatory Committee, meeting from 24 to 28 July, will review preparations for the Conference and also assess progress in the implementation of international support measures for those countries, particularly in the areas of official development assistance (ODA), debt relief, investment and trade.

UN: [21 Jul 2000] DEV/2253 : LAYING GROUNDWORK FOR THIRD UN CONFERENCE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, PREPARATORY COMMITTEE TO MEET AT HEADQUARTERS, 24 - 28 JULY

As members of the conference's preparatory committee, the 20 members of the Governing Council who did not win posts in Mr Allawi's government have already awarded themselves seats in the 100-seat National Assembly, which will leave the 1, 000 delegates at the conference to scrap over the remaining 80.

ECONOMIST: Onward, Muslim soldiers? | The