1.   As in a similar offensive last August, the government troops failed to fulfill promises to take the stronghold in a few days of fighting.

2.   Fighting resumed when government troops tried to take the strongholds but were beaten back by the rebels.

3.   Gore takes Democratic stronghold.

4.   Government troops tried to take the strongholds by force in December and were beaten back.

5.   The accord unraveled in December when government troops tried to take the strongholds by force and were beaten back.

6.   The accord unraveled in December when government troops tried to take the strongholds by force and were beaten back by heavily-armed rebel forces.

7.   The fighting renewed when government troops tried to take the strongholds by force and were beaten back.

8.   The fighting renewed when the government tried to take the strongholds by force and was beaten back.

9.   The fighting resumed when government troops tried to take the strongholds by force and were beaten back.

10.   And experts say taking the stronghold could take many days, if not weeks.