21.   Chechen Deputy Prime Minister Kazbek Makhashev said the only Chechen fighters in the region were guarding the border.

22.   Chechen authorities denied any connection to the gunmen, and ordered extra forces to guard the border with Dagestan, the Interfax news agency reported.

23.   Democrats contend that airport security should be a public function no different from guarding the borders, fighting fires or inspecting food.

24.   Four Indian soldiers were killed in clashes between Indian and Pakistani forces guarding the border that separates the two hostile neighbors, Pakistani soldiers said Monday.

25.   He said a further decrease could be expected this month because Afghan forces have resumed guarding the border and stepped up measures to prevent trafficking.

26.   In addition to guarding the border against possible attacks by the Taliban, the border guards are involved in stopping drugs and refugees from entering Tajikistan.

27.   In a far-reaching move to develop military cooperation, Russia and six other commwealth countries tentatively agreed on Friday to jointly guard their borders.

28.   In the agreement, Russia pledged to help guard the borders of the former Soviet republic.

29.   It would also compel the Serbs to withdraw their troops and police units except for a small force to guard the border.

30.   Meanwhile, new clashes between Islamic rebels and Russian troops guarding the border with Afghanistan broke out, the agency said.