11.   A close associate of hers was reported to be under investigation for espionage.

12.   Li had a reputation as a hardline ideologue and was a close associate of Premier Li Peng, the chief architect of the suppression of the pro-democracy movement.

13.   The Committee was chaired by Robert Kocharyan, a close associate of the Armenian President and a leading member of the Armenian Pan-National Movement.

14.   Although he is said to work well with Gingrich, the two men generally are described as close working associates rather than personal friends.

15.   And although officially she took an early retirement offer, close associates said she was pressured to resign.

16.   And Barak, his government in tatters, is starting to give up on reaching an agreement, close associates say.

17.   And by the end, although close associates believe him to be a highly principled man, he had led many Israelis to believe the opposite.

18.   And is Wayne Embry as fed up with pro basketball as many of his close associates claim?

19.   Another close associate said the reports of possible retirement are accurate.

20.   Another close associate of Kim offered that the president was a good man but was crippled by a lack of intelligence and broad-mindedness.