Laborers who launched a series of strikes are now quiet, and pensioners, who form a key bloc of support for the Government, now are once again receiving their benefits in money that has value.

A key bloc of 38 votes or more is held by the military, and its chief, Gen. Wiranto, is being courted by Mr. Habibie with an invitation this week to be his Vice President.

Some union leaders criticized Mayor Barry for supporting such a plan, especially when organized labor provides a key bloc of his political support.

The endorsements are vital, because they head key blocs in Parliament, which under Turkish law elects the president for a seven-year term.

"Relations between the center and the states have to be redefined," said Chandrababu Naidu, leader of a regional party in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh that controls a key bloc of 17 seats.

It presented special challenges for the Iraqi and Kurdistan regional governments, and the leaders of key political blocs.

Smith might turn out to own a controlling interest, or at least a key bloc in a proxy fight.

But the Baghdad-born rabbi, the pre-eminent figure in the Shas Party, which holds a key bloc of 17 seats in Israel's 120-member Parliament, appeared to backtrack from his earlier statement.

But for the purpose of forming a Government, the key bloc will be the 20 seats won by five splinter parties and six independents.

Economic Roadkill is a key bloc.