Similarly, five big power-generation firms were split out of a single company in 2002 to foster competition.

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Daschle also said Democrats and Republicans would continue to share presiding duties in the chamber, part of the power-sharing agreement reached when the Senate was split 50-50.

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In addition to the petrol engine and electric motor, the LF-CC hybrid drive system further comprises a generator, a high-performance battery, a power split device which, via planetary reduction gears, combines and re-allocates power from the engine, electric motor and generator according to operational requirements, and a compact power control unit to govern the high speed interaction of the system components.

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But the Columbia team came to the head of the peloton to lead the chase and -- as well as catching the breakaway quartet with 25km left -- they managed to split the peloton, such was their power of their work at the front and the cross-winds which caused chaos behind.

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The 70% of voters who opposed Mr Mwanawasa split their loyalty between ten power-hungry rivals.

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The plan proposed by Mr Vande Lanotte would see a further decentralisation of power to Belgium's regions, split between the Dutch-speaking Flemish population and French-speaking Walloons.

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In any event, Mr Sadr's movement is split between pragmatists who want to win a modicum of power by co-operating with the new order and a more militant wing that prefers messianic declarations and last stands.

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Now the Tories are split between those who think power will come from elbowing Labour aside in the centre-ground and those who think they should eschew anything Blairite and seek to be distinctively Conservative.

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Last year the AFL-CIO, America's labour federation, split as members anguished over its flagging power.

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Many were caused by the centrist Union of Christian Democrats, which split from the centre-right coalition before the April 2008 election that returned the right to power.

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With the power roles now reversed, it's the owners who would now gladly go for a straight 50-50 revenue split.

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