1.   Foreign diplomats and political analysts say that the rebels had been operating in largely autonomous units.

2.   If civilians are cleared from much of the area where rebels operate, it should be easier for government security forces to fight the rebels.

3.   Northern Alliance rebels were already operating in these areas before Mazar-e-Sharif was taken.

4.   The rebels have been operating in the hills bordering Kosovo and Albania.

5.   Only lightly armed Serb police were permitted in the buffer zone, enabling ethnic Albanian rebels to operate there with impunity.

6.   Rebels are operating from southern Sudan.

7.   Rebels operated from jungle bases in eastern Sri Lanka.

8.   Aceh is one of three Indonesian provinces where separatist rebels operate.

9.   As a result, well-armed ethnic Albanian rebels have been operating there with impunity.

10.   Before the offensive began, the rebels operated a ferry service across the lagoon to help civilians cross to the military-controlled mainland.