41.   The Islamic warriors have been besieging the city for six months and are accused by the government of raining rockets and artillery shells on civilian areas.

42.   The Islamic warriors were using the equipment to produce morphine and heroin in areas under their control, he claimed.

43.   The Islamic warriors, who espouse a particularly strict brand of Islamic law, immediately began issuing a string of decrees regulating the behaviour and appearance of Kabulis.

44.   The Islamic warriors admitted carrying out the raids, but said no civilian targets had been hit.

45.   The Islamic warriors have vowed to topple the three-year old government of President Rabbani and establish Islamic law throughout the country.

46.   The Islamic warriors then quickly captured two provinces north of the capital, but began to lose key ground after Masood launched a guerrilla war two weeks ago.

47.   The Islamic warriors who control more than half of the country declined to meet him, diplomatic sources said.