Neutral observers saw the trial for what it was: an attempt to cover up the Navy's own fumbling.

FORBES: Fact and Comment

Neutral observers say the Tigers have also shelled Tamil civilians during their offensives, as has the Sri Lankan army.

ECONOMIST: The war the world is missing

Neutral observers may be sceptical, but political allies are heartened by his unusual willingness to take on the much-feared Treasury.

ECONOMIST: London Underground

Neutral observers expect the National Diet to approve the Kuroda-Iwata-Nasano BoJ nominations.

FORBES: Currency Traders Await Central Bank Clues

More neutral observers agree that while Syria may indeed be fighting a covert struggle to defend its soft underbelly, the Syrians are unlikely to control any but a few of the varied groups seeking to undermine the Lebanese government.

ECONOMIST: Lebanon

Great observers are neutral, not rummaging around for pre-conceptions in their memory.

FORBES: Power of the Limber Brain

Israel (let alone Syria) will not look to neutral U.S. observers for military intelligence and early warning.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Policing the Golan? No

Rice said international observers followed by neutral peacekeepers should be dispatched quickly to Georgia and its separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, where Russia has a peacekeeping mission.

CNN: Georgia signs cease-fire agreement

One way of wrong-footing Mr Milosevic would be to offer to take part in a run-off, but only one properly supervised by outside observers from respected neutral countries, such as Sweden or Switzerland.

ECONOMIST: Milosevic��s last stand

But Yugoslav Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic has said foreign observers would be invited to monitor the elections but only from sympathetic or neutral countries.

BBC: Milosevic announces election date