11.   He added that the Communists were intent on maintaining the alliance with the other leftist parties that support the government.

12.   Higinio Martinez, the candidate of a leftist party, is running a distant third.

13.   Investors prefer that outcome because the leftist parties are seen more committed to selling off state companies and cutting the budget deficit.

14.   Jorge Santos Nunez, of a leftist independent party, doused the stars and stripes in gasoline and lit it on the second floor of the Congressional hall.

15.   Resistance from labor unions, and from leftist parties within the government itself, would be intense.

16.   Saturday, the leftist party held angry demonstrations in several cities around the state, including the capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez.

17.   Shimon Peres lost his short-lived bid to run for prime minister on Thursday when the leftist Meretz party voted against endorsing him.

18.   The leftist party continues to negotiate with the government to reach a peaceful solution to the growing conflict.

19.   The Party of the Democratic Revolution, the main leftist party, almost immediately declared its opposition to the initiative.

20.   The opposition, which will be weak in numbers, will consist of the leftist Meretz party, the secularist Shinui party and the Israeli-Arabs.