11.   Meanwhile, a group representing the plaintiffs in the Hawaii case announced it will oppose the candidacy of the Marcoses in the May congressional elections.

12.   The group is still studying specific legal grounds for opposing the candidacies.

13.   Ghanaian Kofi Annan on Thursday improved his standing in informal voting on the UN chief in which France alone opposed his candidacy, diplomats said.

14.   His candidacy was opposed by the Forum for Democracy, which groups seven opposition parties including the former communist Socialist Party, in a statement issued Thursday.

15.   Hours later, The New York Times daily published a front-page story reporting the United States opposed his candidacy.

16.   UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said Thursday he hoped that the United States would not oppose his candidacy for a second term.

17.   That election was hard fought, with the United States and Britain opposing his candidacy.