1.   France would be the first continental European country to sell such bonds.

2.   In that regard, Britain differs even from Continental countries like Germany, where sports are considered cultural events and broadcast on public television.

3.   Many Continental countries wanted to extend majority rule to decisions on immigration policy, visas and justice.

4.   The reliance on conscripts meant that some continental European countries took far too long to get their forces on the move for Kosovo, French military officials believe.

5.   Yet Britain is proving slower to embrace online investing than are continental countries, supposedly so much more leery of the American way of capitalism.

6.   Yet this is a continental country with an intercontinental economy that depends on air travel to knit both families and businesses.

7.   Although markets were open in most continental European countries, many people took the day off.

8.   There were four Americans and nine people from continental European countries among the winners.

9.   Pressure for animal rights is much less marked in most continental countries than in Britain.