11.   In the last year, the government has pushed through a tough law restricting press freedom, and Islamic parties boycotted parliamentary elections they charged were unfair.

12.   In protest, the opposition parties have boycotted the assembly.

13.   Opposition parties boycotted the parliament yesterday to protest the scandal.

14.   Some Protestant leaders have called on the unionist parties to boycott the formal peace effort that is being pushed by Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain.

15.   Such a move could undermine and further split the opposition if some parties boycott an election and others take part.

16.   The main opposition party boycotted the last elections in protest, and so has been excluded from political debate.

17.   The Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday forced the legislation through the more powerful lower house as opposition parties boycotted the vote.

18.   The Paisley party is boycotting the talks and wants the Protestant paramilitary parties ejected from negotiations.

19.   The opposition parties also boycotted proceedings in the Senate, which approved the budget last week.