  Using numerical simulations, we study propagation of ultrashort light pulses
in an inhomogeneously broadened two-level medium. There are two main issues in
our study. The first one concerns the transient process of self-induced
transparency soliton formation, in particular, the compression of the pulse
which seems to be more effective in the case of homogeneous broadening. The
second question deals with the collisions of counter-propagating solitons. It
is shown that the level of inhomogeneous broadening has a substantial effect on
the elasticity of such collisions.
