21.   Serious illness could also weaken his chances of reelection as president when his five-year term expires next summer.

22.   The Communists, now in the opposition, were also divided into two factions two months later, weakening their chances of making a bid for power.

23.   The Communists, now in the opposition, also split into factions, weakening their chances of making a bid for power.

24.   The strong consumer confidence numbers may have weakened the chances the Fed will cut interest rates again before the next scheduled meeting in mid-May to spur the economy.

25.   The threatened boycott would have essentially wiped out the standard Austrian defense and weakened its chances of going to Japan and South Korea.

26.   A lower than expected figure could also provoke a slump in the dollar, as it weakens the chances of a rise in US rates.

27.   It is a handicap which also weakens the chances of another Dutchman, former foreign minister Hans van der Broek.