1.   Fears of a feud between the rival republican groups has also hardened positions.

2.   And politicians from both parties are busy hardening their positions as part of the posturing that precedes every presidential election year.

3.   Anything that smacks of a slap on the wrist, GM officials say, will only harden their position in any settlement negotiations.

4.   As the Bosnian government hardened its position, the Bosnian Serbs appeared to move closer to conciliation.

5.   As time passes, the pro- and anti-Wal-Mart factions harden their positions, but politely for the most part.

6.   As polls showed Clinton gaining strongly in the standoff, the White House hardened its position.

7.   But a Palestinian official said Barak has hardened his positions because of public unrest back home and the fact that many in his governing coalition have abandoned him.

8.   But after discussions among themselves, the opposition groups then seemed to harden their position and reasserted their demand for complete repeal.

9.   But having faced anti-US pressure at home, she has since hardened her position against the strikes on Afghanistan.

10.   But in the intervening months, both sides have hardened their positions and compromise now seem remote.