1.   Police, reinforced by counter-terrorist army troops, surrounded the house in a siege that lasted most of the day and was marked by sporadic explosions and gunfire.

2.   British astronomers have discovered sporadic small explosions on the surface of the sun that they say may help explain some of its mysteries.

3.   Gunfire and sporadic explosions, apparently from rockets fired from hand-held launchers, rattled the capital of Guinea-Bissau on Thursday.

4.   No major fighting was reported in the Podujevo area Thursday although sporadic explosions could be heard.

5.   Only sporadic explosions and machine gunfire were heard in Sarajevo early today.

6.   Only sporadic explosions and machine-gun fire were heard in Sarajevo early Tuesday.

7.   Sporadic explosions and exchanges of fire echoed in the besieged capital, and the city government used darkness as a shield overnight to put up anti-sniper baricades.

8.   Sporadic explosions and exchanges of fire echoed in the capital, and the city government used darkness as a shield to put up more anti-sniper baricades overnight.

9.   Sporadic explosions continued Saturday as munitions were ignited by fires burning inside the plant, located on the outskirts of the city.

10.   Sporadic explosions continued Saturday morning as munitions were ignited by fires burning inside the plant, located on the outskirts of the city.