DATE=10/20/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-255275
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Boris Yeltsin, recovering
from a recent bout of influenza, summoned top security
officials to his country residence to discuss Russia's
next move in the breakaway region of Chechnya. V-O-A
Moscow correspondent Eve Conant reports military
officials vow to wipe out Islamic militants in
Chechnya's capital, Grozny, but say there will be no
full scale attack on the city.
TEXT: President Boris Yeltsin met with top security
officials as well as his defense, foreign and interior
ministers to determine Moscow's next moves in
Chechnya. No details of the meeting were immediately
available.
It is not clear whether Russian troops will simply
fortify their positions to the west and north of
Chechnya's capital, Grozny, or if they will try to
storm the city.
The first deputy chief of Russia's armed forces,
General Valery Manilov, told reporters Wednesday there
will be no frontal attack on Grozny, but said Russian
forces will destroy Islamic militants in the capital.
///Act Manilov in Russian in full and fade
under///
"If there is a need to move into Grozny," he says, "it
will only be done under certain conditions to minimize
casualties among our troops and among civilians.
But," he adds, "Grozny will be freed from the
terrorists."
Officials said Russian warplanes continued bombing
raids in the region Wednesday. Chechen military
sources also reported clashes with federal troops near
the Terek River, which divides the region between the
Russian-controlled north, and Chechen-controlled
central and southern regions. (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/JP
20-Oct-1999 09:58 AM EDT (20-Oct-1999 1358 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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