21.   A police spokesman, Aliyu Yusuf, confirmed the casualty toll.

22.   A mine official, who accompanied the wounded back to Luanda, confirmed the lesser casualty toll.

23.   Artyom Lymar, a spokesman for the Russian troops in Tajikistan, confirmed that a fatal accident had taken place but would not elaborate on the casualty toll.

24.   Before the downing of the helicopter, the casualty toll of the operation started Friday stood at one American and three Afghans killed and an undisclosed number injured.

25.   Before the two helicopter shootings, the casualty toll of the operation started Friday had stood at one American and three Afghans killed and an undisclosed number injured.

26.   Authorities refused to speculate about the final casualty toll.

27.   Before the downing of the helicopter, the casualty toll of the operation started Friday had stood at one American and three Afghans killed and an undisclosed number injured.

28.   Bulldozers were called in and the sources said the casualty toll was expected to rise.

29.   But the party said the Albanian casualty toll was unknown.

30.   But the casualty toll has soared, and the outgunned rebels have held out far longer than expected.