DOCBOOK: Links in an itemized list and <br>

Is there any way to put links in listitems and still keep them close
together? (Vertically that is).
I'm not allowed to put the ulink element directly into the listitem element
- I have to use para, like this:
      <listitem><para>
      <ulink url="xml.html#quote">quote</ulink>
      <para></listitem> 
Para, unfortunately, creates an empty line before and after the text.

Is there any element that works like a <br> in HTML? Just a linebreak, no
space between the paragraphs?


               /Kristina ^_^