11.   In Washington, the Pentagon said there were signs that Serbian troops were preparing to withdraw, although none had begun to do so.

12.   Israeli officials denied that their troops were preparing to move into Palestinian-controlled areas.

13.   Now U.S. troops are preparing to leave Afghanistan, which has been liberated from the brutal, terrorist-sympathizing Taliban.

14.   Russian troops are also preparing to withdraw from contested parts of the city, and many captives have been freed.

15.   Since the rebels entered the region four days ago, Russian officials have said their troops were preparing a full-scale operation to push out the fighters.

16.   The fighting exploded after a week of high tension as political negotiations stalled and both rebel forces and army and police troops prepared for a new round of fighting.

17.   The preceding day, the troops had been preparing for an all-out invasion.

18.   U.S. troops are preparing the naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba to house the first wartime detainees from Afghanistan, who are expected to arrive within a week.

19.   Troops are preparing to fight the war on the ground, where terrorists hide in sophisticated cave complexes in mountainous and rugged territory.

20.   Across the Zaire River in Brazzaville, Congo, U.S. troops were preparing for the possible evacuation of Americans from Zaire.