1.   It is unclear how President Clinton could block the merger.

2.   Also, the North Carolina Business Court recently refused to block the merger.

3.   And in all four cases, the antitrust officials were able to block the merger, he said.

4.   And short of trying to block the merger, the government may also order the companies to sell off certain divisions before approving the deal.

5.   Asked whether Intuit might be open to another suitor if the Justice Department blocks the merger with Microsoft, Cook quickly said no.

6.   Attorneys general of several states, including New York, also said they would sue to block the merger, citing its potential anticompetitive effects.

7.   Both policies could conflict with the aims of antitrust law, which considers pricing, not national security, in instructing the government when to block a merger.

8.   A deal with Continental, however, could be complicated because Northwest, as a byproduct of a marketing alliance with Continental, could block a merger.

9.   A few mergers have been blocked.

10.   A week after the First Interstate-First Bank agreement, Wells Fargo sued both companies in Delaware -- where First Interstate is incorporated -- to block the merger.