41.   Russia claims that arms and fighters slip across the mountainous border from Georgia to join the rebels.

42.   Several soldiers then joined the rebel Revolutionary United Front that is fighting to overthrow Kabbah.

43.   Soldiers in most cities have put up little fight, preferring to loot and run or to join the rebels.

44.   Some Ugandan military sources said the rebels were joined by members of the defeated Zairian Armed Forces and former Rwandan Hutu militia known as Interahamwe.

45.   The Americans and Iranians had joined Afghan rebels in their fight against the Taliban.

46.   That revived speculation that the men had either been massacred by Serbs, joined the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army, or were being held hostage.

47.   The battle was a major embarrassment for the Papua New Guinea government and army after local military-backed militiamen defected and joined the rebels.

48.   The estimate revived speculation the men had either been massacred by Serbs, joined the rebel KLA, or were being held hostage.

49.   The ethnic Albanian boss, named Sabri, joined the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army.

50.   The government, meanwhile, urged soldiers who had joined the rebels to return.