31.   Hundreds of activists of Shiite extremist groups also have been picked up by police.

32.   Hundreds of people have been killed in recent years in conflict between Sunni and Shiite groups.

33.   Iran, as well Shiite groups in Pakistan, deny the charge.

34.   Israeli officials blamed the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, the main Shiite group fighting to oust Israeli troops from south Lebanon.

35.   Iran, which has a majority Shiite population, traditionally has backed Shiite groups worldwide.

36.   Kaffash said most Shiite groups were for the moment waiting to see how Khan would precede.

37.   Lebanese security sources said the ambulance belonged to the Islamic Message Scouts, an affiliate of Shiite political groups.

38.   Militants, however, say that the Shiite groups, like the most prominent Movement for Shiite Law, are financed by Iran, a majority Shiite Muslim country.

39.   Mousawi heads Islamic Amal, a small Shiite group allied with with Hezbollah, the umbrella group for Shiite militants backed by Iran.

40.   Shah, a member of a local Shiite group, and his brother-in-law both died instantly.