1.   Opposition and governing coalition legislators today resumed negotiations on re-opening the budget bill.

2.   Opposition and governing coalition legislators will today resume negotiations on re-opening the budget bill.

3.   Over the weekend, several more conservative coalition legislators said they were considering voting against the plan.

4.   However, despite threats by some coalition legislators to vote against the budget, it appeared unlikely the government would fall in such a vote.

5.   It passed in a preliminary vote, in part because many coalition legislators were absent.

6.   Kan said he is working with ministry officials and coalition legislators to put together a settlement in line with a proposal by courts in Tokyo and Osaka last October.

7.   New Frontier party legislators, who have blocked the door to the room since Monday, started to shove the Hashimoto forces, including police officers and coalition legislators.

8.   One government coalition legislator was absent.

9.   Only Howard and two other coalition legislators have been in government before.

10.   Ten coalition legislators were expected to abstain.