$filter = array (
array( //the And
array( //the first element of the And
'last_name' => array('$eq' => 'shiekh')
),
array( //the second element of the And
'$or' => array( //the OR
array( //the first element of the Or
'first_name'=>array('$starts' => 'F)
),
array( //the second element of the Or
'first_name => array('$starts' => 'A')
),
), //close the Or
), //close the And
) //close the filter
FrancescaS