11.   And along the Asian rim of the vanished Soviet state, Russian forces are assisting autocratic regimes to resist fundamentalist guerrilla movements that have a rear-guard sanctuary in Afghanistan.

12.   And he helped organize the surrender of Gudermes to Russian forces last year.

13.   And the region has reportedly come under ferocious bombardment by Russian forces.

14.   And with Chechen rebels in control of the capital city of Grozny and Russian forces in retreat, it was not necessarily an unreasonable assessment.

15.   And while Russian politicians talk about negotiating, Russian forces continue to gain ground.

16.   Anxious to avoid the bloody infantry battles that inflicted heavy losses on their troops during the last war, Russian forces have employed new tactics this time.

17.   As Clinton spoke here, Russian forces continued to pound away at targets in Grozny, particularly the presidential palace, a stronghold of Chechen rebels.

18.   As the deputy commander of the Northern Group of Russian forces in Chechnya, Malofeyev was an important commander.

19.   At home, however, the Duma called on him to return, and Russian forces stormed the hospital.

20.   At the same time, Stepashin won credit for directing the Russian forces that eventually freed the hostages after negotiations with the rebels.