1.   As the Kurdish factions clashed, Iran also moved troops into its northern territories.

2.   At the same time, Iraq has criticized Iran, accusing its troops of pushing into Iraqi territory to aid the Kurdish faction it sponsors.

3.   At the same time, Iraq has strongly criticized Iran, accusing its troops of pushing into Iraqi territory to aid the Kurdish faction it sponsors.

4.   Awake at last, the State Department has focused on mediation between the Kurdish factions.

5.   Both said the United States has not been able to resolve the decades-old fighting between Kurdish factions.

6.   A Kurdish faction in Iraq is attacking a rival group backed by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

7.   A rival Kurdish faction appealed to Saddam to send in forces, purportedly to counter the Iranian assistance.

8.   A senior State Department official acknowledged on Thursday that it might be hard to persuade the two largest Kurdish factions to settle their differences after years of fighting.

9.   Afflicted by tribal tensions at the start of their decade of freedom, the two Kurdish factions have come together.

10.   Both Kurdish factions now scoff at the thought of any non-Kurdish opposition returning to the area.