Mr. Kohlhaussen recently softened his long-held opposition to any merger and said he might be open to talks with Dresdner Bank, Germany's third largest.

The General Motors Corporation is easing its long-held opposition to publicly traded automobile dealers, a key executive said today.

Despite long-held opposition by many feminists to sociobiology and ethology (the most common basis to the feminist argument being that male aggression is entirely culturally derived) their conclusions are very similar.

The lawmakers deny any sort of quid pro quo, insisting they were only expressing their long-held opposition to expanding tribal gambling.

The office was criticized for sheltering genocide suspects in refugee camps and dropped its long-held opposition to forced repatriation when Rwandans were returned from Tanzania.

Gov. George E. Pataki hinted in an interview today that he might soften his long-held opposition to raising some taxes or putting off planned tax cuts.

But even as he announced his plans, Mr. Giuliani reiterated his long-held opposition to the very concept of an independent review board.

The agreement, which averts nearly 600 layoffs this winter, reflects a break with the union's long-held opposition to furloughs of municipal workers.

I have had a long-held opposition to the establishment of this office, which has been raised, not only in this context, but also on the question of cross-border criminal proceedings.

The recommendation is a reversal of Mr. Cuomo's long-held opposition to an increased gasoline tax.