The two then engaged in a protracted struggle for the leadership.
These are useful first steps in what is sure to be a protracted struggle to get the city's budget under control.
That set off a protracted legal struggle in military and civilian courts.
That veto will probably set off a protracted partisan struggle.
Killed with a knife, wallet missing, no sign of a protracted struggle.
Such a veto would open a new and volatile stage in the protracted struggle here over a state budget.
The country has also been involved in a protracted struggle against Islamic insurgents and terrorists.
Her whole life had been one protracted struggle against this enemy, and now she had lost.
That appeared to set the stage for a protracted political struggle over control of the police here.
Moscow had pledged that there would be no protracted struggle this time.