41.   The Taliban are locked in a ferocious battle with a northern-based alliance led by former military chief Ahmed Shah Massood and Uzbek warrior Malik Pahlawan.

42.   The Taliban are waging a ferocious battle with government troops who have taken control of Kabul and were pushing the student militia back out of the Afghan capital.

43.   The Taliban army, which controls roughly two-thirds of the country including the beleaguered capital, is waging a ferocious battle with its enemies north of Kabul.

44.   The Taliban has been locked in a ferocious battle with rival rebels since overrunning the capital last September.

45.   The Taliban is locked in a ferocious battle for power with the northern-based alliance, of which the Shiite Muslims of Bamyan are a part.

46.   The Taliban religious army has been locked in a ferocious battle with its northern opponents since seizing Kabul last year.

47.   Infantry troops captured the small village of Urelu and the larger Neerveli town after ferocious battles with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, military officials said.

48.   Infantry troops captured the small village of Urelu and the larger Neerveli town after ferocious battles with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

49.   Infantry units have already captured the key rebel strongholds of Neerveli, Kondavil, Kopai and Thirunelveli after ferocious battles.

50.   Defence officials said the rebels have escalated hit-and-run attacks against the troops that captured Kilinochchi on Sunday after a ferocious battle.