51.   That raised concerns among some consumer advocates Thursday that such a behemoth could stifle competition.

52.   That market has long been plagued by allegations that the industry is dominated by firms that have links to organized crime and stifle competition through intimidation.

53.   The deal would have stifled competition in the Scandinavian toilet-paper and paper-towel markets, the regulator said.

54.   The court found last year that that by integrating its Internet browser into its operating system, Microsoft was stifling competition and violating antitrust laws.

55.   The defense attorneys also contended that the arrangements did not stifle competition and that no patients were denied the choice of hospitals or harmed in any way.

56.   The companies say the system stifles competition by unfairly favoring companies with a track record of exporting rice to three European countries.

57.   The FTC has filed a lawsuit to block the deal, claiming a merger of office superstore chains would stifle competition.

58.   The government contended that the telephone colossus was illegally stifling competition, using regulator-sanctioned profits to subsidize unregulated businesses, like the making of equipment.

59.   The government has accused Microsoft of tying its Internet browser to its monopoly product, the Windows operating system, in an illegal tactic to stifle competition.

60.   The government is trying to prove that the browser and operating system are two products, illegally bundled together mainly to stifle competition.