The failure to vote or an abstention has the same effect as a vote against the proposed combination.

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The US's abstention from the vote on Resolution 1860 is a stunning statement of hostility toward Israel.

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While Olmert presents the US's abstention in the vote as a major diplomatic victory for Israel, in truth it is a stunning defeat.

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He noted that voting on such measures typically broke into familiar political blocs, while Indonesia is famously non-aligned, but he pointed to a shift toward abstention on a vote concerning treatment of Burmese monks.

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Of the remaining Conservative MPs, 127 were in favour, 35 did not vote, and five registered an abstention by voting both in favour and against.

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Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration's Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee decided by a vote of 11 to 1, with one abstention, that Merck's Mevacor should not be sold over the counter.

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He saw this latest proposition seemingly breeze through yesterday by a vote of eight-to-zero, with one abstention.

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The prime minister is thought to favour a "no" vote but some others around the cabinet table either support President Abbas or would prefer abstention.

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First, the far-right came up high, at 17.9%, most of which should vote Sarkozy in the second round, 60% allegedly, the rest being devided between Hollande and abstention.

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