21.   The reappearance of some of the missing activists has raised more questions than it answered because they have refused to reveal their whereabouts during their prolonged absence.

22.   Analysts estimate Brazil has already lost one million tonnes of its harvest, because of the prolonged absence of rainfall.

23.   An examination by a specialist in England indicated that Ambrose faced either an operation or a prolonged absence from the game to give his shoulder time to heal.

24.   Crude prices have risen sharply in recent weeks in the face of reduced stocks in consumer countries and the prolonged absence of Iraqi oil.

25.   The sell-off in leading stocks overshadowed indications of a return of retail investors to the market after a prolonged absence.

26.   Pasqua has initiated a procedure to have Schuller removed as a councillor because of his prolonged absence.

27.   The ageing former king lived in self-imposed exile in Italy for almost three decades until April this year but the prolonged absence has done nothing to dent his standing.