DATE=9/5/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / DAGESTAN / 2ND UPDATE / S-L
NUMBER=2-253485
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Hundreds of gunmen (some estimates up to two-
thousand) have crossed into Dagestan from Chechnya and
are fighting for control over four villages. Moscow
correspondent Eve Conant reports the incursion came as
rescue workers were still pulling bodies from the
rubble of a military housing apartment in the city of
Buinaksk where an explosion killed at least 17-people
and injured up to 100-others.
TEXT: Gunmen crossed into Dagestan (early Sunday)
from neighboring Chechnya, and began fighting with
local police for control of villages in the Novolaksky
district.
A Russian Interior Ministry official addressed the
people of Dagestan on local television and asked the
men of the republic to assist federal forces in
countering the attack.
In Buinaksk, rescue workers are sifting through the
rubble of a five-story apartment building which
collapsed after what was believed to be a car bomb
ripped though it late Saturday. The building housed
civilians as well as Defense Ministry officials and
their families.
Dagestani officials are describing the explosion and
the new incursion as -- links in the same chain. No
one has claimed responsibility for the blast, but
local authorities have said they believe it is
connected with recent threats by Islamic
fundamentalists.
// REST OPT FOR LONG //
Leaders of the extremist Wahhabi sect have threatened
to carry out terrorist acts in what is believed to be
part of an effort to make Dagestan an independent
Islamic state.
Fighting in the newly seized villages continued
throughout Sunday. Casualty figures were difficult to
confirm.
A Kremlin spokesman told the Interfax news agency that
Russian president Boris Yeltsin is "outraged" over the
attack. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he would
take no military action against Chechnya for sending
militants into Dagestan, but that Russia will take all
measures necessary to restore peace to the region.
Meanwhile, fighting also continues in the Karamakhi
area of Dagestan. Russian troops have stepped up air
attacks against Islamic fundamentalists in existing
positions trying to retain control over several
villages. Saturday, Russia's Defense Ministry took
control of the conflict from Russia's Interior
Ministry.
/// REST OPT ///
And in Buinaksk, casualty figures continue to grow as
rescue workers clear the area of the apartment blast.
Earlier, police discovered and defused a device in a
car loaded with 100-kilograms of TNT parked near a
military hospital and another military apartment in
Buinaksk.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry has flown additional
rescue workers and equipment to the scene. Rescue
workers say many of the victims are women and
children.
Buinaksk is Dagestan's second-largest city and has
been named as a potential target for attack by Islamic
militants. The Interfax news agency reports that
several hours before the blast a rebel leader known as
Commander Khattab warned attacks by militants would
continue. (SIGNED)
NEB/ec/dw/RAE
05-Sep-1999 13:08 PM LOC (05-Sep-1999 1708 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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