11.   He has the crucial backing of Syria, the main foreign power-broker in Lebanon, and the confidence of the United States and Europe.

12.   The PSOE failed to win an absolute majority in legislative elections last June but then received crucial backing by the CiU.

13.   The United States, with crucial backing from China, has said any new peace treaty must involve Seoul.

14.   Washington, with the crucial backing of China, has said that any new peace treaty on the peninsula must include Seoul.