As darkness fell, the fighting appeared to move from surrounding villages into town.

But Western diplomats quickly challenged the reports, saying fighting appeared to be continuing.

Such fighting appears to have left the border region an abandoned no man's land.

Many of Beledweyne's people seemed relieved, not so much about the change in government, but because the fighting appeared to have ended so fast.

For the first 17 rounds the fighting appeared even, but in the 18th round King seemed to gain the advantage.

The newest attack on a religious organization came as the fighting that gripped the capital for more than a week appeared to wane.

The heavy fighting in April and May appears to have changed the groups' relations and relative strength.

The heaviest fighting appeared to be near a village 10 miles northwest of Grozny on high ground.

And with one more day to go in the nine-day conference, the fighting appears to have ended.

Now the open fighting and heavy casualties appear to signal a severe break in relations.