1.   Aristides Hospedales, a member of Accion Democratica, said last night the party would abstain from voting, newspapers reported.

2.   Aristides Hospedales, a member of Accion Democratica, the largest opposition party in Venezuela, said last night the party would abstain from voting, newspapers reported.

3.   Pacific Chemicals is also required to obtain approvals from its shareholders for the acquisition of Wijaya Baru shares, in which the interested parties will abstain from voting.

4.   Berlusconi suggested his Forza Italia party could abstain from voting.

5.   Some opposition parties may abstain in the voting, which would help the BJP.

6.   The parties would abstain from retaliatory attacks while the committee reviews the complaint.

7.   In exchange, three religious parties would abstain from voting against the Labour-led government in parliamentary no-confidence motions submitted by the right-wing opposition.

8.   All Social Democratic members of parliament voted for Persson, while all other political parties abstained except the Left.

9.   The right-wing Likud party voted against while Arab and ultra-orthodox parties abstained.

10.   Meanwhile the far-right National Alliance leader Gianfranco Fini said his party would probably abstain in the parliamentary vote.