1.   Over the years, the rebels split into several groups and became unpopular because they began extorting money from poor villagers.

2.   Over the years, the rebels have split over ethnic and power struggles.

3.   But in recent years, the rebels have split into at least three groups.

4.   But some rebels have split with the leadership and taken up arms.

5.   But the rebels have split into small groups that were fighting back fiercely, according to the Interfax news agency.

6.   Even the rebels recently split into squabbling factions.

7.   Government military sources said they believed the rebels had split into small attack squads and filtered westward through government lines toward the Atlantic coast.

8.   Government military sources said they believed the rebels had split into small attack squads and filtered westward through government lines.

9.   In recent years, the rebels have split into several factions.

10.   Russian troops encircling a Chechen village fought Thursday to keep rebels from breaking through their lines, but the rebels split into small groups and mounted intense resistance.