51.   He said a rebel base and eight boats ferrying guerrillas across the Jaffna lagoon were completely destroyed in the air attacks.

52.   He said the Russian strategy of using air and artillery strikes against distant rebel bases in the mountains was working.

53.   His presidency and government faltering, Kabila travelled to his former rebel base of Lubumbashi where he hoped to recapture some of that past glory and sorely needed backing.

54.   His remarks come just one day after the Cambodian government said its troops had captured a key Khmer Rouge rebel base.

55.   However, the air force continues to bomb alleged rebel bases, while rebels inflict daily casualties on Russian forces with hit-and-run attacks and land mines.

56.   His presidency and government faltering, Kabila traveled to his former rebel base of Lubumbashi where he hoped to recapture some of that past glory and sorely needed backing.

57.   Hours before the rebel offensive, helicopter gun ships attacked two rebel coastal bases at Maduvankerni and Kandalady villages, also in Batticaloa district, a military statement said.

58.   However, Usman denied receiving aid from Afghanistan and claimed the latest assault was launched from rebel bases inside Tajikistan.

59.   Hundreds of troops backed by artillery and warplanes had begun attacking rebel bases at dawn Monday in the jungles in Batticaloa district.

60.   In March, the Sudanese government gave the Ugandan army permission to attack rebel bases in Sudan.