Today, half the headquarters staff members have such contracts, down from 63 percent in 1998, according to a United Nations spokesman.

The charges were related to organized crime, a United Nations spokesman said, declining to give further details.

A United Nations spokesman called them "frank and useful."

Neither of the awards has been paid to him, a United Nations spokesman said.

A United Nations spokesman said they had not been mistreated.

A United Nations spokesman said the peacekeeping force was defending itself against a premeditated attack.

"It's a courtesy call," a United Nations spokesman said here tonight.

United Nations spokesmen here said they had no information to confirm the accounts.

Two shells landed near the town hospital today and one civilian was killed, a United Nations spokesman said.

"We have no reason to think that we are the direct targets of attack," a United Nations spokesman said.