The government refrained from challenging any assertions in the King's abdication statement for fear of arousing further controversy.

The government refrained from a large-scale offensive the following year.

The government provided temporary de facto resident status for trafficking victims, and refrained from deporting them.

During the period of the trial the government refrained from fully ratifying the treaty.

What is so troubling is the fact that the government had the means to fix the problem all along but deliberately refrained from using them.

Through the 1880s the government refrained from developing or selling this land, or from purchasing any more.

The government refrained from resorting to economic populism.

For democratic values to be promoted, however, it is vital that governments refrain from imposing censorship and I therefore welcome the provisions of paragraph 13.

Later that year, the two countries reached an understanding that their governments would refrain from further involvement in the historical controversy.