1.   But Pulpit, who did not break alertly and struggled for position, showed class, as well, by battling to gain second.

2.   Their former chief, Michel Gauthier, who battled to gain support from the often-fractious secessionist party, said he was stepping down last December.

3.   Fighting between rebels and government troops battling to gain control of a strategic road link in northern Sri Lanka left nine people dead, the military said Wednesday.

4.   The United States, Russia and several other nations have been battling to gain influence over the Caspian oil supplies in recent years.

5.   However, developing nations seeking to protect fledgling industries and developed countries battling to gain access to overseas markets are divided on many of the most controversial issues.