61.   Since the rebel offensive began in early August, African leaders have been trying to negotiate a settlement of the Congolese dispute, which threatens security throughout central Africa.

62.   The airport next to the refugee camp has been closed to civilian flights since the NATO offensive began - a first hit on the local economy.

63.   The army captured a Tamil Tiger rebel armory after killing six guards Thursday, two days after the offensive began, the military said.

64.   The army has not recaptured any town since the rebel offensive began three weeks ago, he said, saying that the fighting is mostly skirmishes.

65.   The Croatian offensive began Monday, the same day a four-month truce in Bosnia expired.

66.   The full-scale offensive began Saturday as international verifiers pulled out of the province following the breakdown of peace talks.

67.   The new offensive began Friday and continued Saturday with artillery and rocket fire thundering across southern Chechnya.

68.   The offensive began after rebels invaded the neighboring Russian region of Dagestan last summer.

69.   The offensive began at dawn but there were no immediate reports of any major confrontation, Brig. Tissa Jayatunga said.

70.   The offensive began early Sunday when warplanes, navy gunboats and long-range artillery opened fire on rebel positions and ground troops moved forward from the Palali military base.