The　aggregation　of　fuzzy　opinions　is　an　important　component　of　group　decision　analysis　with　fuzzy　information.　This　paper　proposes　two　new　approaches　for　the　assessment　of　the　weights　to　be　associated　with　fuzzy　opinions.　These　approaches　involve,　respectively,　the　minimization　of　the　sum　of　squared　distances　from　one　weighted　fuzzy　opinion　to　another,　which　is　called　the　least　squares　distance　method　(LSDM),　and　the　minimization　of　the　sum　of　squared　differences　between　the　defuzzified　values　of　any　two　weighted　fuzzy　opinions,　which　is　called　the　defuzzification-based　least　squares　method　(DLSM).　The　two　approaches　are　developed　and　numerical　examples　are　presented　to　illustrate　their　simplicity　and　effectiveness　in　aggregating　fuzzy　opinions.　(C)　2006　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.