DATE=10/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHECHNYA / MASKHADOV
NUMBER=2-254858
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=GROZNY
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Chechnya's President, Aslan Maskhadov, says
full-scale war is underway in the breakaway region
with Russian air and ground forces advancing from
three directions. Correspondent Peter Heinlein was
among a group of western journalists who spoke to Mr.
Maskhadov in his heavily guarded office in the Chechen
capital, Grozny.
TEXT: The Chechen leader says heavy ground fighting
has occurred for two-days in the northern, eastern,
and western districts of the republic. He says at one
location clashes are within 25-kilometers of Grozny.
The former rebel leader, elected president after his
troops defeated Russian soldiers in the previous war
in 1996, says air strikes have also intensified.
Sitting at his desk in full battle fatigues, Mr.
Maskhadov says despite Russian claims to the contrary
another full-fledged war is underway.
/// MASKAHODOV ACT. RUSSIAN, FADE.AND
UNDER. ///
He says no matter how hard Russian political and
military leaders try to conceal it, the fact is large-
scale hostilities are in progress with many men killed
and wounded.
Last time, Mr. Maskhadov commanded an irregular
guerrilla group with less than 500-fighters battling a
Russian force several times its size. This time,
experts say the Chechen army is far larger and better
equipped.
Mr. Maskhadov accuses Russia of launching the latest
invasion of his territory under false pretenses.
Using the excuse of chasing terrorists and Islamic
militants as a cover for carrying out a punitive
campaign.
/// 2ND MASKHADOV ACT, RUSSIAN, FADE. ///
He says using that pretext Russian troops have circled
the Chechen state and pummeled 40 villages with
massive missile and heavy artillery attack.
Mr. Maskhadov says all the region's chemical plants
and oil refineries have been hit and nearly 70-percent
of Chechnya's bridges knocked out. A drive through
the Chechen countryside confirms many bridges are
down.
In the previous Chechen war, the majority of the 80-
thousand people killed were civilian. President
Maskhadov says since the present Russian campaign
began in earnest three-weeks ago, 520 civilians have
died.
/// Maskhadov act. Russian, fade.///
He says they are literally exterminating a peaceful
people.
Russian officials deny the charges, saying their
targets are terrorist bases, military supply depots,
and ammunition storage sites. But Foreign Minster
Igor Ivanov admits some civilian targets have been
hit.
The grim-faced Mr. Maskhadov told journalists he fears
a long war, because with elections coming up it suits
political forces in Moscow. The Chechen leader has
said, and repeated (Sunday), he could settle the
dispute with Russia if he could sit down with
President Boris Yeltsin for just 30-minutes.
But with Mr. Yeltsin Hospitalized and the hard-line
Prime Minister, and former security service chief,
Vladimir Putin seemingly in charge, Chechen officials
are bracing for another protracted conflict.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PH/RAE-T
10-Oct-1999 14:33 PM EDT (10-Oct-1999 1833 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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