51.   The budget committee decision followed talks among leaders of the center-left majority backing the government of Premier Romano Prodi.

52.   The discussions came after Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen threatened to go to the polls if the Liberal-Conservative opposition bloc refused to back the government.

53.   The Communists are expected to agree to back the government on key legislation, including the budget, for at least one year.

54.   The Congolese government is backed by the armies of Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

55.   The Left Party is the main force in Parliament backing the government of Premier Lamberto Dini.

56.   The militants have also struck at France, which backs the government in the former French colony.

57.   The mutual assistance helped warm relations between the two nations, who back competing governments on the island of Cyprus.

58.   The report indicated the bishops appeared to back their government.

59.   The rebels claimed they had seized control of the West African capital and forced a Nigerian-led coalition that is backing the government to retreat.

60.   The rebels claimed they had seized control of the West African capital and forced a retreat of the Nigerian-led coalition that is backing the government.