1.   An earthquake hit the capital, causing panic among the population.

2.   The fall was significantly smaller in the United States, where capital was hit less hard by the oil price rise.

3.   As artillery and rocket fire continued to hit the capital, Grozny, the Russian prime minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin, appeared on television in Moscow.

4.   Last week, after a series of daring daylight holdups and car thefts, the capital was hit by spasms of vigilante violence.

5.   An explosion rocked an ethnic Albanian commercial district of Skopje in the early morning, the fourth to hit the capital in as many days, causing no injuries.

6.   An explosion rocked an ethnic Albanian commercial district of Skopje early Thursday, the fourth to hit the capital in as many days.

7.   Another three rockets hit the capital Saturday.

8.   Anti-aircraft fire lighted the sky and the capital was hit by the loudest explosions since the United States starting launching cruise missile attacks early Thursday.

9.   But the capital has been hit as hard as any other region.

10.   Deadly clashes between militants and security forces have increased in recent months, and blackouts have hit the capital in the past week.