1.   After a prolonged stalemate under the last Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Palestinians are plainly eager to see tangible gains toward a broader peace.

2.   The dispute has led to a prolonged stalemate between the Clinton administration and Capitol Hill over the future role that the CIA should play in Iraq policy.

3.   The traditional battles have led to prolonged stalemates and enormous costs.

4.   The government had hoped the vote would break the prolonged stalemate and force the opposition to negotiate a settlement to the constitutional dispute over who should supervise elections.

5.   Bangladeshi officials blamed the prolonged political stalemate for the setback, which, they added, had stalled development activity besides damaging other areas of the economy.

6.   Otunnu predicted that the most likely outcome could be a prolonged stalemate between the rebels and government forces.