31.   U.S. and European officials have come under fierce criticism for not intervening more aggressively to halt the bloodshed.

32.   Pierce, the former darling of the French fans and media, was the target of fierce criticism in French newspapers.

33.   A Hong Kong publishing group known for its fierce criticism of the Chinese government said Friday that the chief underwriter of its planned share issue has pulled out.

34.   A proposed law that would block compensation to most Palestinians wounded by Israeli soldiers during the Palestinian uprising drew fierce criticism Monday from Arabs and human rights groups.

35.   Any potential settlement deal is likely to draw fierce criticism from opposition groups in Armenia and Azerbaijan that do not want to compromise.

36.   Around the Southeast, the bumper-to-bumper traffic jams from the biggest peacetime evacuation in U.S. history spawned fierce criticism of both politicians and emergency planners.

37.   Botham played down suggestions that he and Illingworth could not work together, especially because of the fierce criticism Botham has often leveled at the chairman of selectors.

38.   But a negotiating Trimble would face fierce external criticism.

39.   But surprisingly, no newspaper mentioned it in editorials, the usual arena for fierce criticism of inspectors.

40.   But the draft law, which sets five years for privatization to be completed, immediately drew fierce criticism from opposition and independent experts.