31.  Sharon remains broadly popular in Israel for his tough stand on security.

32.  That comes as the EU executive agency takes an increasingly tough stand against national telecommunication monopolies over concern that high communications prices are hurting European competitiveness.

33.  The bill was introduced in late September, before Prime Minister John Howard won a third term partly by taking a tough stand on issues of national security.

34.  The commission has taken an increasingly tough stand against national telecommunication monopolies amid concern about the impact of high prices on European competitiveness.

35.  The EU executive agency has taken an increasingly tough stand against national telecommunication monopolies amid concern about the impact of high prices on European competitiveness.

36.  The EU executive agency has taken an increasingly tough stand against national telecommunications monopolies amid concern about the effect of high prices on European competitiveness.

37.  The EU executive agency has taken an increasingly tough stand against national telecommunication monopolies amid concern about the effect of high prices on European competitiveness.

38.  The one aspect of American policy in the region that Zayed did not criticize was the tough stand toward Iran.

39.  The programs also take tough stands against out-of-wedlock births and absent parents who do not pay child support.

40.  The tough stands may complicate work next week for Republican congressional leaders, who plan to bring in their top guns to try to resolve the impasse.