91.   The government of Italian Premier Romano Prodi appeared to have enough support from opposition deputies to win backing to join the force.

92.   The melee started when opposition New Party deputies rushed the podium to block discussion of constitutional amendments introduced by their Nationalist and Democratic Progressive Party foes.

93.   The turmoil already affected the functioning of the Parliament with opposition deputies not attending scheduled meetings, private NTV television said.

94.   Though still marginally behind the opposition, it was lobbying opposition deputies in efforts to convince two to switch sides.

95.   Three opposition deputies left the chamber in protest while Mesic spoke.

96.   With opposition deputies holding control over the budget, the PRI also will have a harder time finding patronage jobs for the party faithful.

97.   Yucelen was responding to a question put to him by opposition deputies in parliament earlier this month.

98.   Finance Minister Saifur Rahman said he hoped the opposition deputies would return to the house before the budget was due to be passed on Saturday.

99.   Government spokesman Su Chi Wednesday also dodged a question from opposition deputies when asked whether Vice President and Premier Lien Chan would meet with the Dalai Lama.

100.   Grajcarek added that opposition deputies walking with the protesters had been beaten up by police.