1.   Instead, Russian artillery and warplanes have carried out a withering barrage of suspected rebel positions.

2.   Taliban troops deserted the Afghan capital of Kabul Tuesday morning following a series of military victories by opposition forces and a withering barrage of airstrikes from U.S. warplanes.

3.   But England submerged under a withering barrage from Doull, a former New Zealand medium pacer reinventing his career as an opening batsman.

4.   It was the only mistake by Fuhr, who faced a withering barrage of shots in the third period as Detroit tried to storm back.

5.   The Israelis surrounded the security building on Friday, and three days later launched a withering barrage of tank, helicopter and machine gun fire.

6.   The Israelis launched a withering barrage of tank, helicopter and machinegun fire at his headquarters, engulfing the main building in flames, according to witnesses.