11.   Israeli soldiers blockaded Palestinian cities.

12.   Responding to Palestinian violence, Israel has sealed off Palestinian areas, blockaded individual cities and withheld tax money derived from purchases by Palestinians in Israel.

13.   The Palestinian leader has said it is impossible to hold elections with the Israeli army blockading Palestinian cities.

14.   The two sides have been facing each other off south of here since the Islamic militia blockaded the city on three sides in October.

15.   Saleh had spoken before only of blockading the city.

16.   Soldiers of the Tutsi-dominated army were meanwhile fighting to end a rebel bid to blockade the city and cut off food supplies.