His comments provoked a storm of criticism from Labour and Lib Dem MPs, who accused the chancellor of trying to make political capital out of an appalling crime.

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Both Serbian and Albanian political parties have tried to make political capital out of the week's events.

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Politicians are also being criticised by speakers, who are urging them not to try to make political capital out of the deaths.

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Others just want to make political capital out of any situation.

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Meanwhile, both Israel and the Palestinian factions have signalled that they hope to make political capital out of the murder trial of Marwan Barghouti, a senior Palestinian leader.

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Observers say Mr Jospin has made no attempt to make political capital out of the RPR's party funding embarrassments, because investigators believe his Socialist Party also acquired funds illicitly.

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It is also trying to make political capital out of the fact that Mr Howard will not be in Australia when the tax begins but leading a party of former Australian prime ministers and officials to Britain to mark the centenary of the act of Parliament on July 9th 1900 that set up Australia's federation.

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Even then, only three out of 20 of those successful enough to attract angel or venture-capital investors make it beyond five years.

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Penk, who carried out hundreds of "wind-up" calls at Capital FM, says the recent tragedy will make it almost impossible for these pranks to continue.

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