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   72192
   While the cosmological distance and extreme energy of the majority of
   gamma-ray bursts is established, a possible second class of GRBs has
   emerged in the spatial and temporal coincidence of GRB980425 with a
   peculiar and luminous supernova, SN 1998bw in a nearby galaxy. The one
   remaining cause of doubt about this identification was the simultaneous
   presence of a faint, variable SAX X-ray source in the GRB error circle,
   but not coincident with the SN. It is therefore important to reobserve
   this field with the higher sensitivity of ASCA to test for persistence.
   If recurring, it will be ruled out as the GRB afterglow, leaving
   SN1998bw as the only plausible identification. If not detected, it
   remains a possible GRB afterglow, and further investigations could
   strengthen it credentials.
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