Mr. da Silva responded shortly before the minister in fact stepped down.

And with the orchestra's program for its 100th anniversary in 1996 threatened by turmoil, the minister recently stepped in.

The minister stepped back out of the way as Londo regarded the ornate carriage that had been brought into the circular drive behind the palace.

In early July the moderate prime minister, Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz, stepped down.

When it came time for eulogies, the minister stepped aside, allowing close friends and family to come forward.

Yet one by one, the ministers stepped up to the podium, with the members of the governing council seated before them.

Searching the area one last time, the minister stepped down onto the stairway, which began to glow with a strange, eerie light.

In many countries, a minister so publicly refuted would step down.

A minister stepped from the circle of faceless people, a minister holding an open Bible with blank pages.

The other four ministers stepped from behind the desk and lined up behind him.