31.   Part ritual and art, sumo is a combat match that begins with a fierce clash at the center of the ring and is over in a flash.

32.   One said while fierce clashes took place south of Sarajevo on Tuesday, government troops quietly gained several strategically important positions to the west.

33.   Residents of villages around the Beni Jamra suburb where al-Jamri lives said fierce clashes between Shiite protesters and security forces erupted after the cleric was arrested.

34.   Riot police used truncheons and water cannon Wednesday in a fierce clash with anti-nuclear demonstrators who tried to block a truck loaded with atomic wastes.

35.   Riot police used truncheons and water cannon Thursday in a fierce clash with anti-nuclear demonstrators who tried to block a truck loaded with atomic wastes.

36.   Since Friday, students have engaged in fierce clashes with police.

37.   Security forces killed five communist rebels and captured five others in fierce clashes Monday on the outskirts of Davao City in the southern Philippines, an army spokesman said.

38.   Tavildara, a rebel stronghold, has been the scene of fierce clashes between Tajik government forces and opposition fighters in recent months.

39.   The Devenney home was destroyed during fierce clashes between police and Catholics the following month, when a factory wall collapsed onto the property.

40.   The ice hockey match between Russia and the Czech Republic promises to be a fierce clash between two old rivals at Big Hat arena in Nagano.