41.  The region contains what officials describe as the last major pocket of resistance where al-Qaida fighters are waging a pitched battle against U.S.-supported Afghan forces.

42.  The U.S. military is investigating whether the Army Green Beret soldier killed last Friday in an ambush in eastern Afghanistan was betrayed by Afghan forces believed to be allies.

43.  There could be more trouble if the Northern Alliance, the Afghan force opposing the Taliban, does reach Kabul.

44.  They have changed the political landscape by allying with, and paying, local leaders and by training Afghan forces and sharing intelligence.

45.  Twelve of the prisoners have been released into the custody of American-backed Afghan forces, Myers said.

46.  U.S. officials said only that Muttawakil surrendered to Afghan forces inside Afghanistan.

47.  U.S. Special Forces and a number of local Afghan forces were also involved in the operation.

48.  Putting an Afghan military force in place could take months, while efforts to develop a police force have made little headway.

49.  Abdullah died in late November, one week before the Islamic militia fled their last stronghold under pressure from U.S. bombing and the approach of enemy Afghan forces.

50.  Afghan fighters have decades of guerrilla war experience but Afghan forces are divided between local warlords and tribal commanders.