11.   Wicht declined an offer to leave the compound early on in the siege, opting to remain with the captives.

12.   Coach Bernard Laporte has opted to remain with the core team that helped France upset South Africa and Australia in tests last fall.

13.   Hari Singh opted to remain with India.

14.   He recently talked about retiring because of his declining health but opted to remain party leader to keep a power struggle from breaking out among his subordinates.

15.   Of the other nations, Britain, Sweden and Denmark opt to remain outside of the euro, for now.

16.   The buyer opted to remain anonymous.

17.   The four opted to remain under full central government control.

18.   Volume was light as many investors opted to remain on the sidelines until this afternoon, when the Fed was to announce its decision on interest rates.

19.   But it has generally opted to remain on the sidelines and refused to field any candidates.

20.   Two cousins who also defected opted to remain in Amman, the official said.