21.   Abil, speaking by satellite telephone, said alliance forces were preparing to move against Kunduz, the last northern city still held by the Taliban.

22.   After a Palestinian suicide bombing inside Israel last week, Israeli forces prepared to enter the Gaza Strip to track down militants.

23.   Alliance forces were preparing to target three main Taliban strongholds outside the city when they strike, he said.

24.   An alliance official underlines that NATO ground forces are not preparing to invade Kosovo, and the United States says its position has not changed.

25.   As darkness fell, security forces prepared to dig in for the night.

26.   Baba Jan said his forces were preparing to launch an attack on Taliban positions less than a mile distant.

27.   But Beatrice Lacoste, spokeswoman for the monitors, said government forces were preparing to mine a bridge on the main road leading south to Macedonia.

28.   But Beatrice Lacoste, spokeswoman for the OSCE monitors in Kosovo, said government forces were preparing to mine a bridge on the main road leading south to Macedonia.

29.   Ethiopia ordered all schools and colleges in northern towns along the border with Eritrea closed Tuesday, citing reports that Eritrean forces were preparing an attack.

30.   For hours, as security forces prepared to storm the bus, negotiators tried to persuade the hijacker to free the passengers.