DATE=9/25/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA/CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-254321
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian warplanes have bombed the Chechen
capital, Grozny, for a third consecutive day --
destroying the breakaway republic's television center
and knocking out telephone lines. V-O-A Moscow
correspondent Peter Heinlein reports at least seven
people have been killed in the latest raids.
TEXT: Russia's air force commander says jets struck
industrial targets Saturday in and around Grozny,
including the state-run television center. General
Anatoly Kornukov told reporters the attacks, aimed at
killing Chechen militants and destroying support
facilities, would continue indefinitely.
/// KORNUKOV ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE ///
He says "As long as we are given orders to do it, as
we have by competent commanders and the prime
minister, we will keep bombing." He added "we have
enough munitions, and plenty of targets have been
identified."
General Kornukov suggested there were similarities
between the attacks on Chechnya and NATO's air
campaign against Yugoslavia. He said there would be
no attacks on civilian targets, but video footage
from Chechnya has shown evidence of civilians in
Grozny killed when their homes were bombed.
/// OPT ///
General Kornukov Saturday said Russian warplanes had
carried out 17-hundred sorties since the bombing runs
began in outlying regions early this month. He said
150 military bases have been destroyed, along with 30
bridges, 80 vehicles, six radio transmitters and 250
kilometers of mountain roads.
Independent reports from Grozny residents say
Saturday's attacks also disrupted both regular and
mobile telephone service.
/// END OPT ///
Russia blames Chechen terrorists for the recent series
of apartment house bombings that killed nearly 300
people, and accuses the Chechen government of failing
to control rebels whom invaded the neighboring
Dagestan region last month.
Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov Saturday held an
emergency Cabinet meeting. He later issued a
statement again denying that rebel fighters are
operating from Chechen territory, and urging the
immediate dispatch of international observers to
monitor the situation.
Chechnya's emergency situation ministry says the three
days of bombing raids on Grozny have caused bread
shortages and triggered a mass exodus. Three-hundred
thousand people are said to have fled their homes, and
the main road out of the capital is said to be clogged
with frightened residents trying to escape. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/ALW/JO
25-Sep-1999 09:30 AM EDT (25-Sep-1999 1330 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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