31.   The ultimatum to give up by Sunday was issued early Saturday to Chechens defending the towns of Shali, Argun and Gurdermes.

32.   The United Nations once again Friday pledged it would order NATO airstrikes to defend the town from Bosnian Serbs who have been surrounding it for the past three years.

33.   It was not immediately clear what had happened to the remainder of the government forces defending Bihac town.

34.   Lubumbashi itself was calm on Monday, although families of soldiers defending the town were being evacuated.

35.   Lubumbashi itself was calm Monday morning but families of soldiers defending the town were being evacuated.

36.   On this occasion, the assailants encountered vigilantes who organised themselves to defend the town in the wake of the earlier killings.

37.   She praised the Croat soldiers who came from other parts of Croatia to defend the town.

38.   That means that UN forces, backed by NATO air power, are empowered to defend these towns against attacks directed at their civilian population.

39.   The men included patients from the local hospital, soldiers who were defending the town, hospital staff and Croatian political activists.

40.   The Minister told reporters here that there were heavy casualties on both sides in the eight-day battle for Kilinochchi because the Tigers ferociously defended the town.