21.   More than a dozen business groups have asked Estrada to resign to avoid a drawn-out impeachment process that could further harm the economy.

22.   She resigned to avoid a conflict of interest.

23.   Senate leader Puerta resigns to avoid becoming acting president again.

24.   Skate, who had been dogged by allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement, resigned to avoid a no-confidence vote which was sure to oust him.

25.   And they said Ballin, a Christian Democrat, resigned to avoid embarrassing outgoing premier Ruud Lubbers, who is bidding to replace Jacques Delors as European Commission president.

26.   De La Calle said he resigned to avoid a civil war.

27.   Walesa has said he would never sign a law authorizing abortion, even if he had to resign to avoid doing this.

28.   Neptune replaces Jean-Marie Cherestal who lost favor with the president in January and was forced to resign to avoid a vote of no-confidence.

29.   The CTK news agency said the three had resigned in order to avoid a confrontation between the secret services and the government.