1.   Sending Galindo off with the national title might weaken the case for the United States.

2.   The absence of this witness has weakened the case against the accused.

3.   This move weakens the case for a separate legislature at Stormont.

4.   The absence of this crucial witness seemed likely to weaken the case against Papandreou.

5.   His absence weakened the case against Papandreou, who dismissed the trial as an attempt by the ruling conservative New Democracy Party to discredit the socialists.

6.   Restrictions on trade could weaken the case for retaining natural forests.

7.   A tribunal official said Friday night that the possible disappearance of the bodies would not weaken the case against Milosevic.

8.   Advances in pain control for terminally ill patients weaken the case for assisted suicide to escape pain, he suggested.

9.   But Abad has strenously denied any wrongdoing, and said the charges had been fabricated to weaken the case against Pedro Miguel Gonzalez.