61.  Russian troops launched a large-scale offensive against the city on Thursday, using elite forces for house to house fighting backed by air and artillery bombing.

62.  Sabaya was among three Abu Sayyaf members slain in a battle with elite Philippine naval forces off the southern town of Sibuco before dawn Friday.

63.  The British government took the unusual step Wednesday of publicly warning its special forces veterans against writing books containing potentially damaging details about the elite military forces.

64.  The decision follows a clash between police and members of the elite Kopassus military force in Maluku earlier this month in which several officers from both camps were wounded.

65.  The discussion paper suggests that more elite forces such as paratroopers and Royal Marines may be needed at a high state of readiness.

66.  The incident happened when the four ministry officials and four policemen from the elite OMON force were dismantling aging explosive devices, the local interior ministry office.

67.  The elite force, known as the Pasdaran, and the police have been separately engaged in the drug fight.