21.   The tax-cut package was drafted by Republicans to try to soften business opposition to an increase in the minimum wage.

22.   The Russians have softened their opposition and last month proposed an alternative missile defense system to Washington.

23.   US officials, after first claiming not to have known about their intentions, seemed to soften their opposition to allowing them at the presidential retreat.

24.   Another radical group, the Palestinian Salvation Front, an umbrella group for Palestinian dissident factions, has signaled it was ready to soften its opposition to peacemaking eforts.

25.   Bowles and Raines recently asked Gephardt and Daschle if they were willing to soften their opposition to adjusting the CPI formula, but the Democratic leaders held firm.

26.   Brazil has softened its opposition to a two-year coffee export plan aimed at keeping prices up, producers said Wednesday.

27.   Bush hopes to soften Russian opposition to an anti-missile shield with an offer to make deep cuts in U.S. nuclear weapons, long sought by Russia.

28.   But earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin softened his opposition, suggesting that Russia and NATO could find common ground in the global fight against terrorism.

29.   Bush hopes talk of reducing U.S. nuclear stockpiles will soften opposition in Europe and reassure Russia that missile defense is not a threat to Moscow.

30.   But he acknowledged that since Peru had not softened its opposition to a prisoner release, the talks have moved slowly.