Whole blocks were obliterated during the fighting between the American military and guerrillas loyal to Moktada al-Sadr, a young cleric who had taken a militant stance about the American occupation.

As they fled, small groups of guerrillas loyal to the Government and armed with assault rifles and shoulder-fired rocket launchers hurried toward the fighting over the ridge-line.

Palestinian guerrillas, many loyal to Yasir Arafat, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, hold strategic positions around Maghdusheh.

No group claimed responsibility, but the police here said the kidnappers were Palestinian guerrillas loyal to Abu Nidal.

Mulele married Leonie Abo, a fellow fighter who spent five years in the underground rebel movement alongside guerrillas loyal to Mulele.

Government troops and guerrillas loyal to one of Liberia's two rival rebel leaders fired rockets and shells today in block-by-block fighting for the Liberian capital.

Last week, 120 guerrillas loyal to Yasir Arafat, the P.L.O. chairman, were evacuated from Beirut to a camp south of the city.

Saudi-backed fighters stopped cars only a block from guerrillas loyal to Mr. Doestam, who in turn were just a block from an Iranian-backed faction.

They express particular concern that a move on Kabul by Mr. Masoud's forces would prompt a counterattack in Kabul by guerrillas loyal to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.