> Try to define a "do-nothing" template for <code>
>
> <xsl:template match = "code"/>

Thank you Antsnio
unfortunately, I need to keep <code(s)> outside <table>

Idealy :

 <code><code(s)>A</code(s)></code>
 <table bgcolor="blue">
 <tr>
  <td>
   <code>
    a
    <code>b</code>
    <p>hello</p>
   </code>
   c
 </...>

 must return
<code>A</code>
<code>a b<p>hello</p></code>