51.   That would likely mean that the parties would jointly back a single candidate in selected constituencies, while maintaining their independent identities.

52.   The chairman of the opposition Social Democrats, Oskar Lafontaine, said Thursday his party would back the proposal later this month, virtually assuring its passage.

53.   The center-right party backs independence by legal means and opposes the violent means of the ETA.

54.   The issue is particularly sensitive for Prime Minister Goeran Persson and his governing Social Democrats, because the party backed the sterilization program.

55.   The leading opposition Socialist party backed a proposal by the third-ranking United Left group that the Spanish parliament condemn the verdict.

56.   The issue is sensitive particularly for Prime Minister Goeran Persson and his governing Social Democrats, because the party had backed the sterilization program.

57.   The party also backed down on its desire to retract a special constitutional status enjoyed by the state of Kashmir, the only Muslim majority state in India.

58.   The party backed down in the face of overwhelming support for the matches among cricket-crazy Indians, but security officials were taking no chances.

59.   The party backed away from suggestions it would sue Kohl to make him talk.

60.   The party backs farm subsidies and higher state pensions.