1.   Unlike the Central Asian countries where the Sunni branch of Muslim dominates, Azerbaijan has a Shiite population and borders Shiite Iran.

2.   He said the pope responded that his state of health had kept him from going to the area, which has a mainly Shiite population.

3.   In recent years, Saddam has spent lavishly to try to pacify the Shiite population, reconstructing public buildings that were wrecked in the fighting and repairing Muslim shrines.

4.   Israeli officers based in the administration compound run the day-to-day affairs of the predominantly Shiite population of Bint Jbeil and its environs, the sources said.

5.   Israeli officers based in the compound run the day-to-day affairs of the predominantly Shiite population of Bint Jbeil and its environs, the sources said.

6.   Iran, which has a majority Shiite population, traditionally has backed Shiite groups worldwide.

7.   The base runs the day-to-day affairs of Bint Jbeil and neighboring villages with a predominantly Shiite Muslim population.

8.   The Iraqi government has moved troops to the south, apparently fearing an uprising by its largely Shiite Muslim population, opposition groups and diplomats said Wednesday.

9.   The Shiite population of southern Iraq is equally hostile to Saddam, but coverage opportunities for Radio Free Iraq there are less promising.

10.   The tiny Gulf island nation has a predominantly Shiite population but is ruled by a Sunni Muslim family.