11.  Last June, Annan commended ECOMOG for having helped restore security in most parts of Sierre Leone and asked for extra aid for the special force.

12.  Last month, for example, special elite forces and commandos raided a Taliban compound and an airfield near Kandahar.

13.  Officials would not provide details on how many special operating forces are in the south and whether they have linked up with the anti-Taliban forces.

14.  Official Washington being what it is, that warning was taken by many here to apply with special force to the capital.

15.  On Thursday, two separate Australian special forces teams came under fire and escaped without casualties after US planes came to their defense, Australian officials said.

16.  Russian special engineering forces are to play an important role in this part of the operation, planners say.

17.  Special Operations forces on the ground and in helicopters then attacked and destroyed the vehicles.

18.  Special Operations forces had to help quell a riot when Taliban prisoners rebelled, killing a CIA officer.

19.  Special Russian forces of the Alpha and Delta divisions met strong resistance from the Chechen fighters.

20.  Special Operations forces played a central role in Afghanistan, where they called in air strikes and sometimes fought alongside anti-Taliban Afghans.