21.   Heavy rain also was slowing the advance of government armor, he said.

22.   Repeated rebel counterattacks have slowed their advance.

23.   Sassou-Nguesso admitted Thursday that the French presence there had slowed his advance and indicated that once they were gone, the Cobras would move in.

24.   Several fierce rebel counterattacks have slowed their advance.

25.   The crew aboard locked cabin doors and windows to slow the advance of the team.

26.   The government advance has been slowed by fierce counterattacks by the guerrillas.

27.   The government advance was slowed by land mines laid in the past two days, he said.

28.   The government has brought up four tanks and fresh troops to wipe them out, but their advance has been slowed by freshly laid mines.

29.   The government advance has been slowed by fierce rebel counterattacks.

30.   The Russians sent two armored columns toward downtown Grozny from the north and east on Thursday, but the mines and rebel attacks slowed their advance.