11.   The airline industry originally warned that legislation could result in higher ticket prices, but it has since softened its criticism.

12.   The meeting of the two Korean leaders is unlikely to soften their criticism.

13.   The protests that followed caused Gore to soften his criticism.

14.   After the two met last month, Draskovic softened his criticism of the lack of democracy and freedom of media in the country.

15.   But he softened his criticism by saying the action against dissidents was not as harsh as in the past.

16.   But the French government sought to soften criticism of the tests by offering to share its nuclear umbrella with its European allies, though nothing specific was publicly discussed.

17.   France appealed to its EU partners on Saturday to soften their criticism of Paris following the resumption of nuclear tests in the South Pacific.

18.   He softened his criticism by saying the players have been receptive to instruction.

19.   The French government sought to soften criticism of the tests by offering to share its nuclear umbrella with its European allies, though nothing specific was publicly discussed.

20.   To soften the criticisms, Erbakan has agreed to hand over the prime ministry to his coalition partner Tansu Ciller on Wednesday.