31.   Before the Taliban rose to power and threw them into a loose coalition, the factions now in Kandahar had been bitter rivals.

32.   But their loose coalition virtually collapsed during more than a year of stalemate against Tudjman, who refused to allow the opposition to appoint the mayor.

33.   One is the PPP, which agreed last week to form a loose coalition with two other major opposition groups to ensure that Golkar does not return to power.

34.   One reason to keep Kabul neutral is widespread hostility there to the northern alliance, a loose coalition of opposition forces representing many ethnicities, Powell said.

35.   Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin told fellow premiers that closer cooperation was needed among the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose coalition established after the Soviet breakup.

36.   The Afghan government, a loose coalition of five Islamic groups, controls a third and the rest is divided among powerful warlords and a former communist general.

37.   The agreement created the Commonwealth of Independent States, a loose coalition of former Soviet republics.

38.   The party is also in a loose coalition with the biggest opposition parties.

39.   The previous United Front government, also a loose coalition, lost power in December when the Congress party withdrew its support.

40.   The three opposition parties agreed Thursday to strengthen their loose coalition by forming joint bodies to prepare for the campaign.