21.   The action helped defuse the issue.

22.   The adultery rumors immediately faded and the issue was defused.

23.   The easiest way to defuse the issue, many experts suggest, would be to make all tests untimed.

24.   Thus far, however, the movement to discredit the EPA report and defuse the issue has failed to gain any traction.

25.   What is particularly discouraging for some Japanese officials is that they thought they defused the issue a week ago.

26.   When that caused an uproar, Rawlings said, he tried to defuse the issue by rewriting the proposal.

27.   Pakistan is not a member of the annual forum, held to discuss and defuse issues that could lead to instability in Southeast Asia.

28.   Brown had announced his intention to cut fuel taxes in November, and the gesture defused the issue.

29.   Efforts were under way behind closed doors to defuse the issue.

30.   However, their early release could be a sign of movement to defuse the issue.