1.   At a Wednesday news conference in Trenton, N.J., Whitman said she believed a compromise will be reached to avoid a convention floor fight.

2.   Both the company and the agency said the settlement was reached to avoid the cost and uncertainty of further litigation.

3.   But legislation was introduced in the Senate to prevent a walkout, and agreements were reached to avoid possible disruptions to some commuter rail services.

4.   Legal experts said there is still the possibility that a settlement will be reached to avoid a long, bitter and expensive contest in the appellate courts.

5.   The settlement was reached to avoid further legal costs, he said.

6.   American Family Enterprises, a joint venture that does business as American Family Publishers, said the settlement was reached to avoid extensive litigation.

7.   Kongolo rejected the criticism, saying a consensus on the younger Kabila was reached to avoid catastrophe.

8.   Talal said the successor to Abdullah has not officially been decided, but an agreement has been reached to avoid strife over the issue.

9.   The three were also due to testify before congressional committees on the agreement reached to avoid a US invasion.