31.   Romania wants to join NATO when the alliance takes in new members in a summit to be held later this year in the Czech Republic.

32.   Romania is seeking to join NATO, and the alliance will not take on countries until they settle their quarrels with the neighbors.

33.   Shortly before Nadeem spoke, an alliance commander had said the alliance would take the city by force if its defenders did not surrender on Sunday.

34.   Some have wondered if the alliance takes Kabul if there would be any difference for the people of Afghanistan.

35.   Such alliances take years to create.

36.   The alliance cannot take military action without U.N. say-so.

37.   The alliance has taken the position that the government accumulated wealth because of high prices for land, so now it had to help property buyers.

38.   The northern alliance took over key symbols of power in Kabul, including the defense ministry, on Wednesday despite a pledge to support a broad-based government.

39.   The northern alliance took the city and rolled across at least seven other northern provinces during the weekend.

40.   The northern alliance took prisoners last week after a bloody battle with the Taliban in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif.