21.   In France and Italy, deteriorating economies weakened government authority.

22.   In the shadows, a powerful president and an interfering army threaten to weaken the authority of the new government.

23.   Opposition leaders, who accuse Maskhadov of being too sympathetic toward Russia, frequently use political violence and kidnappings in attempts to weaken his authority.

24.   Proposals circulated by Russia, France and other mediators would all have the effect of weakening the authority of the commission, known as UNSCOM.

25.   The scandal has further weakened the authority of President Kim and his ruling party in an election year.

26.   The United States decertified the country for two straight years as an ally in the war on drugs, isolating Samper politically and helping to weaken central authority.

27.   He warned on Thursday that crackdown would not stamp out HAMAS but would only succeed in weakening the authority to the benefit of Israel.

28.   Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic said Sunday he would not retain the post in the next government because of a new law that weakens its authority.

29.   The prime minister had resisted calls from provincial leaders for a more decentralised confederation out of fears that a new power-sharing arrangement would further weaken central authority.

30.   Meanwhile Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic told AFP he would not keep his post in a new government because of a law weakening its authority.