31.   One refugee, Dar Zardad, said Taliban killed eight boys in their late teens after some of the youths laughed at the militia fighters.

32.   Pro-government militia fighters began laying down their arms in Freetown on Friday as a U.N. disarmament program got underway in the war-ravaged capital, U.N. officials said.

33.   Sixty militia fighters also turned in their weapons.

34.   Syria has always maintained its support for Lebanese and Palestinian militia fighters was to help them liberate their land from Israel and does not amount to terrorism.

35.   The government has mobilized hundreds of army soldiers and national militia fighters to counter the rebels, but so far with little success.

36.   The line had been closed since December due to the presence in the region of Zulu militia fighters, fighting to return ousted president Pascal Lissouba to power.

37.   The militia fighters apparently mistook the trio, who were picking olives, for guerrillas, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

38.   The militia fighters are considered traitors in Lebanon for helping the Israelis.

39.   The rebels and militia fighters have both targeted civilians in recent attacks, human rights observers say.

40.   The United Nations said Tuesday it was sending more soldiers to eastern Congo to facilitate the voluntary disarmament of militia fighters from Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.