21.   Simultaneously, the percentage of women in top ministerial posts plummeted.

22.   Strauss-Kahn, who was forced last year to resign his ministerial post after allegations of false accounting at his law firm, also denied all wrongdoing.

23.   The changes were among a shuffle of nine ministerial posts ahead of parliamentary elections in April.

24.   The parties have been locked in negotiations since then to agree on ministerial posts in a new government.

25.   The politicians decided to oppose Barak as defense minister and to present a list of alternative candidates for ministerial posts that did not include him.

26.   The Protestant unionist first minister of the Assembly, David Trimble, insists that some IRA disarmament must begin before Sinn Fein takes up the ministerial posts.

27.   The rebels were promised a number of ministerial posts in a coalition government, but in return were expected to help disarm their fighters.

28.   The parties have been locked in negotiations since then about ministerial posts in a new government.

29.   Others were critical of no women being fielded as candidates to fill ministerial posts.

30.   Parties withdrawing their nominee could seek new ministerial posts.