1.   But the daring offensive followed three weeks of Russian bombing raids on the villages of southern Chechnya.

2.   The Croatian offensive followed violent clashes over the weekend on the section of the main Zagreb-to-Belgrade highway, which crosses the enclave.

3.   The offensive followed the rejection by Islamic guerrillas of a government amnesty offer.

4.   The army offensives follow a lull in recent fighting.

5.   The offensive followed other signs of escalating tensions in this Balkan country.

6.   The offensive followed a rebel attack on a military convoy returning from an operation around Sid Ali Bounab.

7.   The offensive follows a breakdown in peace talks with KNU leaders.

8.   The new offensive followed the failure of peace talks in France as the Serb delegation refused to endorse an autonomy deal for its southern province.

9.   The offensive followed bitter fighting earlier in the day in the capital when pro-Rabbani troops and the Wahdat skirmished along the front line.

10.   The Russian offensive followed a night of almost unbroken artillery duels around Shali, which the separatists have declared the focus of their resistance.