"If there is a war," the official said, "the fighting ends up protracted and long and spills across the border."

She had stayed at home as he had requested, but the fighting had spilled from the streets into the homes.

The fighting also spilled into nearby Nakhchivan, which was shelled by Armenian troops in May 1992.

"Continued fighting in that region can only spill more blood and further erode support for Russia."

Syed Omar and his mother fled Kabul in 1994 after internecine fighting spilled into his brother's wedding party.

Albania and Macedonia fear the fighting could spill into their countries; some refugees already have.

"The fighting has now spilled over to other provinces," the spokesman said in Peshawar.

The fighting had spilled outside the city walls by then, and there was looting, as always," said Brother Humilis.

There is still a very great risk that the fighting may spill over in one direction or another.

Leaders of Colombia's neighbors also have expressed fears that the fighting will spill into their countries.