41.   British spokesman Major Geoff Moulton said British troops taking part in a major operation in eastern Afghanistan had so far had no contact with opposition forces.

42.   British spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Ben Curry said the Australian forces had been fired on and pursued for around five hours on Thursday afternoon.

43.   But a British spokesman said Thursday it was unlikely a meeting with Sinn Fein would be held before next week.

44.   But a British spokesman denied there was a rift.

45.   British spokesman Colonel Ben Curry said soldiers had searched a compound whose buildings were packed to the ceiling with weapons and ammunition.

46.   But late Thursday the British military spokesman in Kabul, Major Guy Richardson, said the report was incorrect.

47.   Coalition forces have killed some al-Qaeda and Taliban troops in combat in the southeastern Afghan province of Paktia, a British spokesman said Friday.

48.   Coalition forces have killed some Al-Qaeda and Taliban troops in combat in the eastern province of Paktia, a British spokesman said Friday.

49.   Earlier in the day Major Guy Richardson, the British spokesman for the ISAF confirmed the withdrawal had begun.

50.   Thirty British Marines moved into Kabul late Friday to start the first deployment in the war-ravaged city of an international peacekeeping force, a British spokesman said.