P507 507 TELEINF 20:11:13 four-nation Asia-Pacific tour despitj protests from the island's buddhist clergy, witnesses said. The frail-looking pontiff was given a handful of sri lankan soil to kiss on arrival at the international airport here and a state television presenter said the Pope's health prevented the customary kneeling down to kiss the earth. After greeting local bishops and airport officials, the Pope drove in his bullet-proof!"popemobile" straight to president Chandrika Kumaratunga's office in the cit8 centre for a formal welcome ceremony. KOBE, JAPAN - Thousands of troops are mobilised and a call goes out to the public for volunteers, as Kobe emergency operations get into second gear and the death toll exceeds 4,000. see next page >>>