91.   In a country where alliances are fluid and warlords plentiful, U.S. troops have been forced to rely on information from Afghan commanders they barely know.

92.   Khan, the Afghan commander, said the al-Qaida forces are weak but reaching them is a problem because land mines surround their positions.

93.   Leading the final assault were Afghan commanders Zia Lodin and Gul Haider, who floated the idea of a negotiated exit to spare further bloodshed.

94.   Leading the final assault were Afghan commanders Zia Lodin and Gul Haider, who had floated the idea of a negotiated exit.

95.   Lali Saliki, an Afghan commander in the raid, said Americans trained the group of Afghans in the front wave.

96.   Near the front, Afghan commanders sent fresh troops for a new push against the fugitives, nearly all of whom were believed to be al-Qaida members.

97.   Nevertheless, Afghan commanders fighting alongside coalition forces warn that some al-Qaida fighters may yet escape.

98.   One Afghan commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said American mine-clearing teams were trying to remove the mines, but progress was slow.

99.   One Afghan commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said American mine-clearing teams were trying to remove the mines but progress was slow.

100.   Pro-U.S. Afghan commanders said most of the force fled toward the Pakistani border to regroup and return later.