It was the first time Google has openly backed a content company by taking an equity stake.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Progressives, openly backed independence, and lost support.

Mr. Giuliani, usually a vocal supporter of police officers, never openly backed him.

By late autumn, it was openly backing Serb nationalists.

Not a single Arab state that supported the gulf war, including Kuwait, has openly backed this raid.

The Clinton emphasis on trade is a vast improvement over the policies of past Administrations, which often openly backed dictatorship and military rule.

This was the first time that a powerful Hong Kong organization had openly backed the Chinese side in the dispute.

Egypt itself openly backed a second term for Mr. Boutros-Ghali.

Even the Roman Catholic bishops openly backed the anti-Somoza movement in its final phases.

The US government, which had supported General Noriega in his ascent to power, openly backed the opposition.