21.   Under relentless NATO hammering, the Yugoslav president has backed down and said he would consider a peackeeeping contingent that was unarmed or carried only light weapons.

22.   But the former president did not back off.

23.   But the president backed his prime minister and threatened to sack the parliament if it voted a new censure motion against him.

24.   But the opposition -- which is backed by incoming president Peter Stoyanov -- wants the ruling leftists to simply call early elections immediately.

25.   But the president backed Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and threatened to sack the parliament if it voted a new censure motion against him.

26.   But Thursday, the Russian president backed down from his hawkish position, despite the strong criticism and rhetoric issued from his government and ministers in recent days.

27.   But the president backed Chernomyrdin and threatened to sack the parliament if it voted a new censure motion against him.

28.   The Syrian president backed an increased European role in the Middle East peace process, which has been dominated by the United States.

29.   They only ended when the president backed down and reinstated the victories.

30.   Though McCurry too declined to comment on their talks he indicated the president has not backed down on his opposition to the construction.