1.   More than two thousand people have signed a petition opposing the merger.

2.   A consultant paediatrician yesterday joined Labour candidate Alan Milburn to oppose a merger between two district health authorities.

3.   Also opposing the merger was Kansas City Southern Railroad and Montana Rail Link.

4.   Also, a merger might be opposed by the Labor government of Prime Minister Tony Blair if it involved substantial layoffs.

5.   And in the last few weeks, Hewlett has begun a campaign to try to convince other larger shareholders to oppose the merger.

6.   Arnault has said he opposes the merger because he sees no point in merging the food operations of GrandMet with the drinks business of Guinness.

7.   Any staff recommendation about whether to oppose the merger would have to be approved by the five-member Federal Trade Commission.

8.   Arnault has opposed the merger from the start and recently built up a GrandMet stake to exert his influence.

9.   As head of the transit police, he had opposed merger.