31.   Bin Laden lives in neighboring Afghanistan under the protection of the ruling Taliban militia, with whom Pakistan had maintained close ties for years.

32.   Bin Laden lives in Afghanistan under the protection of the ruling Taliban militia, which has refused to hand him over.

33.   Bin Laden is based in Afghanistan, where the ruling Taliban militia have given him refuge.

34.   Both were aiding Afghan rebels fighting the ruling Taliban militia.

35.   But analysts say concerns about the alliance are now taking a back seat to the goal of removing the ruling Islamic militia from power.

36.   Central to the U.S. campaign are sanctions the United States and Russia are seeking to have the U.N. Security Council impose on the ruling Taliban militia.

37.   CNN meanwhile reported explosions in the northeast Afghan city of Jalalabad and the southern city of Kandahar, where the headquarters of the ruling Taliban militia is located.

38.   Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld says he is confident strikes have taken a toll on al-Qaida terrorist network and ruling Taliban militia.

39.   Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says he is confident strikes have taken toll on al-Qaida terrorist network and ruling Taliban militia.

40.   Forces opposed to the ruling Taliban religious militia are backed into a small corner of northern Afghanistan, and the Taliban appears poised to capture all of the country.