1.   GOP candidates looked to capture districts left open by Democratic retirements in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas.

2.   Its commanders said their forces had captured three districts not far from Mazar-e-Sharif, a Taliban-held city at an important crossroad.

3.   Earlier Sunday, the opposition claimed it had captured two districts in the western Ghor province from the Taliban.

4.   Meanwhile, the opposition claimed its fighters captured a district in the northern Bamyan province after heavy fighting.

5.   Nadeem said his alliance was attempting to capture the district and that the Taliban sent in fresh troops and have managed to hold on to their position.

6.   On Sunday, the opposition claimed it had captured two districts in western Ghor province from the Taliban.

7.   On Tuesday the Taliban-run Radio Shariat said the Taliban captured a district in eastern Laghman province from forces led by ousted defense chief Ahmed Shah Massood.

8.   Speaking Thursday by satellite telephone, opposition spokesman Ashraf Nadem said his forces had captured another district, Sayyat, southwest of Mazar-e-Sharif.

9.   Taliban soldiers claim to have captured two districts.

10.   The opposition attacked Taliban positions in eastern provinces Monday and claimed to have captured four districts.