31.   At the same time, opposition parties have been gaining strength, making it increasingly unlikely that blatant irregularities will go unnoticed.

32.   But as democracy has blossomed and opposition parties have gained strength, the ruling party has suffered a steady decline.

33.   But Kennedy hopes his party will gain enough ground to form a strong alternative opposition.

34.   But the party also gained voters in western parts of the city.

35.   But the election results spell an end to the power-sharing arrangement, which would have remained in effect only if neither party gained a Senate majority.

36.   But the party gaining the most seats customarily is given the chance to form a coalition government and name its leader prime minister.

37.   Carter agreed with many analysts that no single party will gain a majority and that coalitions probably will be formed.

38.   Defying expectations that a pro-Islamic party would gain in strength, the Nationalists made substantial gains, emerging second.

39.   Electoral officials did not specify how many seats each party gained in direct elections.

40.   Expectations are that pro-Western parties would gain even more seats in case of a new parliamentary ballot.