11.   Concern that Middle East military tensions might escalate and disrupt oil supplies have waned in the past few days, allowing oil prices to pare previous gains.

12.   Even so, there are fears that tensions could escalate into civil war.

13.   Few experts said they believed that the tension would escalate into a shooting war.

14.   In the four weeks that have followed, tensions have escalated further.

15.   Ms. Estabrook, who is the executive director of the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, said that when the lawyers intervened, the tension escalated.

16.   Oil prices slumped earlier this week as concern eased that Middle East military tensions would escalate and disrupt the flow of oil from the region.

17.   Now, there is the growing belief in diplomatic circles that the Cyprus question must be resolved before tensions escalate further.

18.   Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee that oversees trade issues, warned that trade relations could be damaged if tensions escalate.

19.   She quickly became involved in the civil rights movement as tensions were escalating.

20.   Tension has escalated all week.