51.  A resident of Khost city told AIP the situation was extremely tense and people feared an outbreak of fighting between the rival forces.

52.  Analysts fear the deployment could spark a wider civil conflict between rival ethnic forces.

53.  An AFP correspondent on the scene said the rival forces attacked the camp in waves using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades.

54.  Axworthy said he expected Canada would be able to help in the demobilisation of the rival forces, developing the justice and legal system and advising on land reform.

55.  But a defence ministry delegation from Kabul had brokered a truce between the rival forces, he added.

56.  Despite his efforts to play down the incident it was not the first time rival Palestinian forces have come to blows.

57.  The radio, monitored here, said the raid was carried out after the rival forces suffered a defeat at the hands of Taliban near the Istalif village Monday.

58.  The rival forces have been engaged in clashes for several months in Badghis, which is largely Taliban controlled.

59.  The radio in another report said troops loyal to embattled Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani flushed out rival forces from the areas between northern Faryab and Ghor provinces.

60.  The rival forces have been battling in the dusty, rugged and isolated area since the Taliban launched an attack on Dostam late last year.