11.   In recent weeks, Saddam has taken steps to ease his diplomatic isolation, receiving a visit from President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

12.   Moonves took the first public step to ease the tension on Sunday, commenting publicly for the first time since the news of the ABC bid broke on Friday.

13.   Some experts argue that this step eased price spikes and denied continued high trading profits to Enron and other companies.

14.   While underscoring a hard-line toward Cuba, the president did say that he would take some minor steps to ease life for Cubans living under the Castro regime.

15.   Whitman and state lawmakers have already taken steps to ease the auto insurance rates for some drivers.

16.   Over the past few days, Israel has taken some steps to ease the closure, including allowing food convoys into Gaza.

17.   Fischer said, however, the world should take more steps to ease the impact of future crises.

18.   He urged India to sign a global test-ban treaty, predicting that that step would ease tensions.

19.   Israel took several steps to ease restrictions on Palestinians, including the lifting of an internal closure on Palestinian areas that prevented residents from traveling out of their communities.

20.   Israel took steps to ease restrictions on Palestinians, including the lifting of an internal closure on Palestinian areas.