31.   Russian forces opening a new offensive against one of the last rebel strongholds in Chechnya encountered heavy resistance today, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

32.   Russian jets blast the Chechen capital with rockets and troops approaching the city encounter heavy resistance from separatist forces, the ITAR-Tass news agency reports.

33.   Shah said his fighters were meeting heavy resistance.

34.   The attack stalled because of heavy Taliban resistance.

35.   The larger rebel group, meanwhile, put up heavy resistance to government troops advancing toward their headquarters in the southern Philippines, the military said Saturday.

36.   The outnumbered militants are concentrated around Grozny and did not put up heavy resistance when Russian armored columns rolled across the open plains of northern Chechnya.

37.   The second attack appeared to bog down in the face of heavy resistance from the Chechen defenders.

38.   The town fell to government troops Wednesday after heavy resistance from the rebels.

39.   The statement from spokesman Maj. Tilak Dunuwille said advancing columns of troops had overcome heavy resistance.

40.   Tokyo has hesitated, facing heavy resistance from China.