51.   Lacking a support base of his own, Jiang has sought to reinforce his claim to power by appointing his backers to key party, military and government positions.

52.   Many wrote his political obituary then, but Kilfedder persevered on a base of strong personal support base in his Protestant heartland.

53.   Meanwhile, Premier Alain Juppe held meetings with government majority leaders to try and shore up his own political support base, which has showed signs of eroding.

54.   Moscow said it would close the base in Cuba and a naval support base in Vietnam in an effort to raise more money for the military in Russia.

55.   Most of the Isatabus, vastly out-armed by the Malaitans, have retreated to the countryside, where their support base is located.

56.   Neither has won a seat in parliament but both claim their support base is growing.

57.   Of the candidates registered Saturday, Yavlinsky has the strongest support base.

58.   On the Greek island of Crete, police said dozens of protesters staged a small demonstration outside a U.S. Navy support base in Suda Bay.

59.   State police and army troops have also been accused of human rights violations in raids against presumed rebel support bases in the mountains of Oaxaca.

60.   Such steps, however, may erode the already thin support base Yeltsin has had among pro-reform forces, which remain fractured.