1.   Curiously, the religious militia did not demand that the United States refrain from attacking targets in the country, only that it stop the loud criticisms.

2.   He is widely respected for his personal integrity, though as a leader he was rendered powerless by religious militia factions in a land then corrupt beyond imagination.

3.   Opposition soldiers say Taliban jet fighters have been pounded their area killing civilians, a charge the religious militia has denied.

4.   A spokesman for the anti-Taliban alliance said there was fierce fighting near the city but that the Taliban religious militia had been unable to enter.

5.   A year later, the Taliban were accused of slaughtering ethnic Hazaras in revenge when the religious militia retook the city.

6.   A year later, the Taliban were accused of massacring minority Shiite Muslims when the religious militia retook the city.

7.   A spokesman for the anti-Taliban alliance said there was fierce fighting near the city, but that the Taliban religious militia had been unable to enter.

8.   Abdullah, who uses one name only, said an anti-Taliban commander had been bribed to allow the religious militia to enter the city.

9.   Afghan warlords opened peace talks in Iran on Monday, but the Taliban religious militia that controls most of the war-torn country was absent.

10.   Afghan warlords opened peace talks Monday in Iran, but the Taliban religious militia that controls most of the war-torn country was absent.