31.   On Tuesday, the rebels claimed that the military advance had been halted and that they had destroyed three battle tanks.

32.   On Tuesday he announced the troops would halt their advance in hopes of reestablishing peace contacts.

33.   President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe said Wednesday allied troops fighting in Congo will strengthen their defenses to halt rebel advances on the eve of proposed cease-fire talks.

34.   Rebels claimed Tuesday that the government advance had been halted and that they had destroyed three battle tanks.

35.   Rebels said they have halted their advance on this strategic city on the Zaire River to await the arrival of more forces for the final assault.

36.   Russian news agencies said Tajik government troops halted an advance by opposition forces in the Tavildara region of this former Soviet republic in Central Asia in fierce fighting Friday.

37.   Serb ground troops closed in on a besieged enclave of northwest Bosnia today, undeterred by a NATO airstrike intended to halt the advance.

38.   Since sweeping into Kabul in September the Taliban has been locked in a ferocious battle north of the city against a four-party alliance that halted its advance northward.

39.   Since sweeping into Kabul, the Taliban has been locked in a ferocious battle north of the city against a four-party alliance that halted its advance northward.

40.   Southeast Asian currency crisis might halt advances made by players from the region.