1.   The move came after a sudden two-week postponement that had provoked new cries of cronyism from government critics.

2.   And Washington has increasingly backed the Israeli line, provoking cries of outrage in the Arab world.

3.   The decision by the Commission to authorise the release of the funds provoked cries of protest from some European airlines as had approval of the overall rescue plan.

4.   The high number of executions provoked cries of alarm from rights groups such as Amnesty International, but Riyadh dug in its heels.

5.   The latter card provoked outraged cries in the hall and nearly caused a fistfight.