11.  Last month, the government and mainstream opposition signed a peace protocol that paved the way for national reconciliation in the republic.

12.  Mainstream opposition parties have organized daily protest rallies throughout Serbia, drawing enthusiastic crowds that vary from several hundred to several thousand supporters.

13.  Mrs. Zia has refused to step down or hand over power to anyone else and the mainstream opposition groups have threatened to boycott the balloting.

14.  Takemura noted the fluid state of the mainstream opposition compared to the entrenched Liberal Democratic and Communist parties, rivals for most of the postwar era.

15.  The group has secured support from the mainstream opposition Social Democrats for some crucial legislation.

16.  The mainstream opposition Conservatives and Liberal Democrats hope voter discontent about crime and poor public services will translate into more seats.

17.  Other mainstream Indian opposition parties have also said than an election thrust on Kashmir without involving the locals would fail recent government efforts at ending the separatist drive.