1.   American officials appear determined to find a way to bolster the government army despite the problems in the federation.

2.   -- Not as many government armies in Africa coerce or allow pre-teens to enlist.

3.   But fighting exploded last week around Bosnia, with fierce battles between the rebel Bosnian Serbs and the Bosnian government army on several fronts.

4.   But the government army was soon repelled, and the rebels have counterattacked with success.

5.   Gen. Rasim Delic, the commander of the Bosnian government army, appears to have drawn his conclusions.

6.   He said there had never been any evidence of recruitment of children by the government army.

7.   Hopes were also running high in Sarajevo Saturday as two days of fierce assault by the Muslim-led Bosnian government army appeared to moderate.

8.   Kabila has angered a large constituency he might have co-opted by turning officers of the former government army out of their homes and housing his own soldiers there.

9.   Like smaller groups that have defected in the past, they would apparently join the government army while remaining in place with their weapons.

10.   Members of the former government army, however, have reportedly threatened from refugee camps outside Rwanda to target U.S. troops if they are deployed in the country.