But environmentalists oppose several clauses in the bill, particularly one that says if negotiations fail, Pacific Lumber can cut timber at Headwaters regardless of laws protecting endangered species.

She opposed several clauses of the text, including the criminalisation of Internet users and measures perceived to be harmful to free software, and supported the "global license".

STICKING POINTS - Democrats oppose clause allowing Federal contractors to replace stirking workers, and anti-abortion clauses.

In the past, Iraq has opposed clauses 6 and 8b contained in Resolution 986.

But Mr Clerides opposes key clauses in the plan, which was put forward by the UN secretary general, Boutros Boutros Ghali, and endorsed by the Security Council.

Bondholders generally opposed such clauses in the 1980s and 1990s, fearing that it gave debtors too much power.

Mathers had previously made submissions to Parliament on bills, opposing clauses of the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill 2009 and arguing for the "setting of minimum environmental standards" across the country.

The narrow margin reflected desertions by 21 Republican moderates, most of whom opposed anti-abortion clauses and other conservative measures written into the legislation.

Hundreds of amendments have been tabled and prominent Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers have opposed clauses in the bill, which is aimed at saving £350m from the department's annual budget.