1.   Burton, trying to defuse controversy over allegations he tried to shake down a lobbyist for contributions, said he would welcome an independent counsel probe of his activities.

2.   But he defused the controversy days later by opening a local speech with a self-effacing warning.

3.   By the time the complex was filled, the controversy was largely defused, but the homeowners continued to monitor the operation.

4.   During his news conference Tuesday, Woods had defused the controversy.

5.   Gingrich also sought to defuse controversy over his own multimillion dollar fund raising.

6.   Little upset Torre, who defused potential controversies involving Kenny Rogers and Ruben Sierra with aplomb.

7.   The channel, FTV, defused the controversy by agreeing to beam a separate signal, with more demure models, to India.

8.   The role of a responsible governor is to defend academic freedom and defuse the controversy it sometimes arouses.

9.   The Texas Department of Agriculture scheduled a meeting between the grocery chain and the milk producers group to try to defuse the controversy.

10.   When he apologized to the president at the beginning of an interview three days later, the controversy was defused.