Black uniformed soldiers stand guard at the ruins, clutching rusty assault rifles.

BBC: By Frank Gardner

The mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno, a member of Mr Berlusconi's Freedom People movement, has fought a running battle to keep uniformed soldiers out of the city centre.

ECONOMIST: Italy

When the uniformed soldiers came to the door, Mrs.

WSJ: War Tragedies Strike Families Twice

Although the government denies enlisting child soldiers, uniformed boys as young as 12 were visible at every roadblock, resting their chins on the ends of their gun barrels.

ECONOMIST: Dusty and doomed in Kabila��s capital

As it moves to repress growing opposition to clerical rule, the regime relies not on soldiers or uniformed police (many of whom sympathize with the protesters) but on the bullies of Hezbollah and the equally thuggish Revolutionary Guards.

FORBES: Millionaire Mullahs

"With much joy and satisfaction we want to inform you that next Monday the FARC will hand over the 10 uniformed people, police and soldiers, that are in their control, " said Piedad Cordoba, a former senator who has helped coordinate hostage handovers in the past.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS