21.   The reports were based on opinion polls taken by the Abacus polling institute between Monday and Sunday, before voters cast their ballots.

22.   The reports were based on soundings taken by the Abacus polling institute between Monday and Sunday, before voters cast their ballots.

23.   The survey carried out by the SOFRES polling institute is to appear in the Figaro-Magazine on Saturday.

24.   The survey, by the Sofres polling institute, pointed out that support for the ecologist candidates in general was falling.

25.   The survey, conducted by the Taloustutkimus polling institute, indicated an increase in support over the last two weeks.

26.   The traditional absence of democracy and public debate has produced a mass of voters whose opinions are unsophisticated and volatile -- a tough challenge for the polling institutes.

27.   Two new surveys published Thursday, by the Louis Harris and CSA polling institutes, made welcome reading for Chirac.

28.   Polls published by two polling institutes earlier said the Olive Tree alliance was ahead of the center-right Freedom Alliance.

29.   Polling institutes said that for Sunday night they planned to issue estimates only for those five cities and several other less important ones.

30.   Since then, the polling institutes have revised their survey methods.