1.   Although Stearns campaigned hard for freshman candidates, he may not be able to overcome the desire of many Republicans to diversify their leadership ranks.

2.   Cheney quickly rose within the Republican leadership ranks and often acted as a trusted bridge between Young Turks like Gingrich and the old Republican guard.

3.   Rep. Martin Frost of Dallas moved up a notch in the House Democratic leadership ranks Tuesday after his colleagues elected him as their conference chairman.

4.   The events happened while MARTA scrambled to fill leadership ranks in the months after the departure of former General Manager Rick Simonetta.

5.   The United States has been leaning on the resistance to broaden their leadership ranks to include Pushtuns and other groups.

6.   They also saw a breakdown in the normally disciplined Republican leadership ranks that could foretell a battle for speaker, if Gingrich is eventually forced to step aside.

7.   Watts is the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, but his ability to move up in the leadership ranks seems uncertain.

8.   French-German pharmaceuticals group Aventis SA said Monday it plans to replace management board Chairman Juergen Dormann as part of a broad shake-up of its leadership ranks.

9.   On Sunday, Giuliani presided at a promotion ceremony for the Fire Department to fill its leadership ranks after hundreds of firefighters were lost Tuesday.

10.   His nomination will only guarantee continuity in the leadership ranks of FRELIMO, the analysts said.