31.   Government troops clashed with bandits in the southern Philippines, leaving at least two marauders and a soldier dead, police reported Tuesday.

32.   Government troops clashed with separatist rebels, killing four people, in the Indonesian province of Aceh, where security forces have intensified operations, police said Wednesday.

33.   Government troops clashed with separatist Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka, leaving seven rebels and one soldier dead and four rebels wounded, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

34.   Government troops still clash occasionally with a small group that rejected the peace deal and with Islamic fighters based in neighboring Afghanistan.

35.   Government troops clashed with fighters from a Muslim separatist group Sunday as they continued an offensive against a different separatist group and bandits in a southern island province.

36.   Guinea-Bissau government troops clashed Tuesday with rebels in the interior of the west African nation, raising the prospect of a return to civil war, Portuguese officials said.

37.   Guinea-Bissau government troops clashed with rebels in the tiny west African nation Tuesday, raising the prospect of a return to civil war, Portuguese officials said.

38.   Government troops also clashed with Yemeni members of Islamic Jihad to try to weaken the group.

39.   Government troops clashed three times Monday with small groups of rebels in Talipao, a rebel stronghold, but there were no reports of casualties, the military said.

40.   Government troops clashed with Muslim extremist guerrillas in a southern province Sunday, killing at least four rebels and forcing many villagers to abandon their homes, officials said.