1.   Anticipating that, major holdouts have been working for years with the United Nations to modify unacceptable provisions.

2.   It is an open question whether this declaration will lead to an early agreement between Israel and Syria, the last major holdout among the Middle East belligerents.

3.   Southwest Airlines was the only major holdout.

4.   That is significant because China has been a major holdout.

5.   The alliance has some major holdouts.

6.   The deal came together after eleventh hour wrangling between the U.S., the European Union, Japan and Malaysia, the last major holdout in the accord.

7.   The only major holdout was Continental Airlines, which said Tuesday that it would continue to serve meals as usual on its planes.

8.   Annan and Chretien said they were pleased that the major holdout nations had sent observer teams.

9.   But Russian President Boris Yeltsin announced in Strasbourg, France on Friday that Moscow would sign the treaty, leaving the United States and China as the major holdouts.

10.   China, a major holdout on an international treaty signed this week to ban anti-personnel land mines, said Thursday it needs to keep using them to defend itself.