1.   Most of the Sufi orders follow the Sunni branch of Islam, and Sufis are credited with bringing Islam to India.

2.   U.S. officials said this alliance was notable because it marked the first time radicals from the minority Shiite branch of Islam collaborated with extremists from the dominant Sunni branch.

3.   U.S. officials said this alliance was the first time radicals from the minority Shiite branch of Islam collaborated with extremists from the dominant Sunni branch.

4.   Unlike the Central Asian countries where the Sunni branch of Muslim dominates, Azerbaijan has a Shiite population and borders Shiite Iran.

5.   Washington likes that the Taliban, which adheres to the Sunni branch of Islam, is a source of worry for Iran, populated by Shiia Muslims.

6.   Almost all the merchants, traders and preachers were from the mainstream Sunni branch of Islam, and today most Asian Muslims adhere to Sunni Islam.

7.   Hamid said the Shiites were going from house to house in small groups to recruiting those belonging to the Sunni branch of Islam.

8.   Iran is a majority Shiite Muslim country, and the Taliban are from the rival Sunni branch of Islam.

9.   Most native Qataris adhere to the Wahhabite school of the Sunni branch of Islam.

10.   Mystics of the Sunni branch, called Sufis, preached widely in Asia and were instrumental in converting people.