But the coordinated attack amounted to the most ambitious operation undertaken by the Muslim-led Government forces since the war began in April 1992.

By tracking certain communications and e-mail messages, police detectives were able to piece together a leading theory that the attack amounted to an orchestrated robbery, the official said.

The association's critics charge that that attack on the canon amounts to a devaluation of the greatness of Western civilization.

Amnesty International said the attacks amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Last month, Gov. George E. Pataki weighed in on the issue, saying that the attack "clearly" amounted to two occurrences.

He said: "The attack on the convoy amounted to an assault.

Russia's defense minister, Sergei B. Ivanov, speaking in Moscow as the hostage crisis unfolded in the south, said the attacks amounted to war.

In a report to be released Monday, Amnesty International said the sexual attacks in Darfur amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

An attack on an MP anywhere amounts to an attack on democracy.

In 2002, 75 insurgency-linked attacks amounted to 50 deaths among police and army personnel.