21.   Angola is believed to have deployed troops and possibly pilots to help Kabila hold off rebel advance.

22.   Angola, which has contained rebel advances in western Congo, is pivotal.

23.   Angola and Namibia also sent troops and tanks to help stop rebel advances.

24.   Angolan and Zimbabwean troops repulsed a rebel advance on the Congolese capital of Kinshasa last month.

25.   But army officers say the troops defending Jaffna now have multiple barrel rocket launchers which helped halt the rebel advance on the city.

26.   But it was unclear if the initial discussions here would bring a halt to the rebel advance.

27.   But government forces blocked the rebel advance last month after obtaining new warplanes, multi-barrel rocket launchers and other armaments from Israel, Pakistan and some other countries.

28.   But Kabila has demanded direct negotiations with Mobutu before he will halt the rebel advance.

29.   But Kinshasans, watching rebels advance and the apparent ouster of the prime minister, worry about a power vacuum and flee the capital.

30.   But it remained unclear Thursday if the U.S. action near the front line was designed to open the way for a rebel advance.