• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=10/26/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-255485
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russian forces are using artillery and air 
strikes to cover ground troops moving within a few 
kilometers of the Chechen capital, Grozny.  V-O-A 
Correspondent Eve Conant reports from Moscow. 
TEXT:  News agencies say Russian reconnaissance teams 
have pushed into several villages on the edge of 
Grozny.  But Chechen military leaders say there has 
been  no  fighting inside the capital.
The majority of the city's civilian population has 
fled, leaving the streets mostly deserted.  Russian 
forces have prevented a further exodus by closing the 
main route leading out of Chechnya into the 
neighboring republic of Ingushetia.
Reports from the region say many refugees who want to 
escape are trapped inside Chechnya while others who 
want to return to their homes to collect relatives or 
possessions  cannot  reenter.  News reports say 
civilians can be seen at roadblocks pleading with 
Russian soldiers to allow them out. 
///  OPT  ///   The United Nations refugee agency is 
calling on Russia to reopen the border to allow what 
it describes as "tens of thousands" of civilians to 
leave the combat zone.   ///  END OPT  ///
Contact with Chechen officials has been cut off.  One 
of the last telephone lines to the Chechen 
presidential administration was  not  working Tuesday. 
Russia's Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, says the 
Kremlin fully supports the campaign so far.
///  PUTIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///
Prime Minister Putin says he evaluates the Chechen 
operation very positively.  He says Russian troops are 
strictly following and fulfilling the battle plan 
Federal forces continue to carry out air strikes and 
shelling in areas to the north and east of Grozny.  
The Associated Press reports Russian forces have 
shelled the city's airport, but that report could  not  
be independently confirmed.
A leading general says Russia has placed a one-
million-dollar bounty on Shamil Basayev, a Chechen 
guerilla leader who launched raids into neighboring 
Dagestan.  Russia considers him responsible for a 
series of deadly apartment bombings.  Mr. Basayev -- 
in interviews with Western reporters -- has vehemently 
denied any involvement in the bomb attacks.  (Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH/KL
26-Oct-1999 18:13 PM EDT (26-Oct-1999 2213 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.