11.   Bravo said the Ecuadorean army patrol later searched for the FARC band but could not find them.

12.   Foot patrols searched under cover of light-armored vehicles armed with machine guns.

13.   The patrol also was searching for land mines when the rebels attacked them in a village in Polonnaruwa district, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

14.   Police have been put on a state of emergency and mobile checkpoints were set up several main arteries around the Strip as patrols searched cars and checked papers.

15.   The patrols were searching for Mohammad Dirani, believed to be held by the intelligence services of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.