As the superpowers' global influence erodes, regional buyers like Iraq will become more ambitious, aggressive and dangerous.

Mr. Serpa's third-place finish was an especially hard blow for the Liberal Party, whose influence had steadily eroded in recent months.

"And the more the street is in control, the more Arafat's influence erodes."

Instead, a movement's influence erodes when it jettisons these "nonhistoric" values in favor of "historical values."

The president's image and influence have eroded since he first took office.

Meanwhile, Soviet influence among the black-ruled nations has eroded steadily as Moscow has proved unable to provide substantive aid or a usable model for development.

He predicted then that unless the movement changed its tactics and its leadership, its influence and its economic base would erode.

The influence of Standard French, particularly as exercised through the mass media, is eroding this particularity amongst younger French-speakers.

With the death of Witt Stephens, whose influence had already eroded, the state lost its last real power broker.

But Mr. Giuliani's influence has eroded even as he has called for increased mayoral control over the board's $8.4 billion budget.