21.   Australia has faced mounting international criticism over its hardline stance towards illegal migration.

22.   Basque political parties failed to work out a common stance towards the violent ETA separatist group when they met here Friday, one of their leaders said.

23.   Beijing in recent days has publicly adopted a tough stance towards the US allegations.

24.   But this time round, China has stepped up diplomatic pressure for Western nations to drop their confrontational stance towards human rights abuses in China.

25.   Condemnation also came flying from the Nueva Izquierda faction of the United Left, which adopts a critical stance towards the rest of the party.

26.   Following the imposition of the EU sanctions, there was no sign that Mugabe and his aides were ready to end his hostile stance towards western nations.

27.   The six-nation GCC eased its stance towards Iraq in a final statement adopted at the end of a three-day summit in Manama on Wednesday.

28.   The United States said Friday European countries may be exempted from penalties under the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act as a result of their toughened stance towards Iran.

29.   Their supportive stance towards Zimbabwe followed a two-day visit to the country earlier this week.

30.   The United States is not participating in this scheme, but Western powers have softened their stance towards a dual-track approach on the landmine front.