81.   But the remarks were made before the Chechen fighters repulsed the latest Russian offensive on the presidential palace in Grozny on Monday.

82.   But other senior officials said Israel only has a few days to complete its latest offensive before international pressure to halt it becomes too strong to resist.

83.   But on Thursday a spokesman for Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar in Kabul accused Pakistan of providing troops for the latest Taliban offensive.

84.   Defence sources said junior defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte and army chief Gerry de Silva were in Palaly directing the latest offensive.

85.   Dozens of armoured cars, tanks, bulldozers and ambulances had been moved to Vavuniya for the latest offensive.

86.   Earlier, pro-PNG provincial Bougainville Premier Theodore Miriung admitted the latest military offensive, launched in March, had not achieved anything.

87.   Even as troops were conducting their latest offensive, Tigers killed two soldiers in the Jaffna peninsula Friday.

88.   Even as troops were conducting their latest offensive, Tigers killed three policemen in the eastern town of Godapota Wednesday, officials said.

89.   Former government forces sent reinforcements of men and equipment to the region on Tuesday ahead of the latest offensive, a military source said.

90.   The military has vowed to seize the town of Jaffna during the latest offensive.