11.   An explosion rocked a compound housing NATO troops from Italy and Portugal on Wednesday, killing at least three soldiers and wounding seven.

12.   The Mass was held on a former military airfield that housed Soviet troops until just four years ago.

13.   The United States offered to transport and house the troops.

14.   The West Bank bases, located outside of Palestinian towns, will eventually house regular troops now stationed in Palestinian population centers.

15.   In recent days, Italian and French soldiers have been scouting for suitable sites to house the troops and testing the routes to be used by the force.

16.   Military engineers are racing the clock to remove land mines and other unexploded ammunition from five sites chosen to house peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan, British officials said Thursday.