The U.N. monitors, whose numbers gradually rose to about 300, were sent in to ensure that both government and opposition fighters were abiding by the cease-fire and other elements of Annan's peace plan.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) The U.N. envoy to Afghanistan said civilian casualties rose nearly 30 percent in the first three months of the year, calling it a "troubling rise" in violence.

NPR: UN Warns Of 'Troubling Rise' In Afghan Violence

Former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash may have shed some light on Rose's artistic hyper-sensitivity during an interview with David Letterman last year.

NPR: Is New Guns N' Roses CD Worth The Wait?