11.   Ousted leader Abdurrahman Wahid vacated the presidential palace he had been refusing to leave, ending a political standoff Thursday and allowing his successor to move into the mansion.

12.   Partial returns Monday indicated a referendum that would allow the president to pick the prime minister and end a political standoff was headed toward passage.

13.   A U.S. State Department official visiting Bangladesh plans to discuss its longstanding political standoff with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and opposition leaders.

14.   A tense political standoff this month has generated alarming reports about another ex-Soviet region disintegrating into chaos.

15.   A tense political standoff this month has stirred widespread concern and generated alarming reports about another ex-Soviet region disintegrating in tumult.

16.   Bangladesh has been paralyzed by the political standoff, in which opposition leaders accusing Mrs. Zia of corruption and incompetence have called general strikes and protests.

17.   Boris Yeltsin hesitated Tuesday over ramming through his unpopular choice for prime minister, while opposition and religious leaders warned that the political standoff could spark civil war.

18.   Business leaders support opposition in political standoff.

19.   But Lien and Soong have criticized Chen for failing to give up his pro-independence stance and blamed him for the protracted political standoff with rival China.

20.   Early returns Monday indicated a referendum allowing the president to pick the prime minister and end a political standoff was headed toward passage.