DATE=10/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-255516
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian troops are pounding Chechnya's capital
with rockets in the heaviest attack on the city since
federal troops invaded the breakaway republic last
month. Chechen officials say initial reports show
several dozen civilians were killed and more than 100
injured in the attacks on Grozny. Moscow
correspondent Eve Conant reports Russian President
Boris Yeltsin says Moscow is determined to press ahead
with the campaign.
TEXT: News reports say large plumes of smoke could be
seen over Grozny as Russian jets roared overhead.
Houses in the eastern part of the city suffered
damage, and civilians were reported to be hiding in
basements and staying indoors. Others are said to be
trying to flee, but the main route out of Chechnya has
been blocked.
/// OPT /// A Russian defense ministry press officer
told V-O-A the ministry was looking into the reports
but would make no further comment. /// END OPT ///
Chechnya's President Aslan Maskhadov reported heavy
fighting on the outskirts of Grozny, but said no
Russian troops had entered the capital. Russian news
programs say federal troops are only a few-kilometers
away from Grozny and had completed their campaign to
surround the city.
Earlier Wednesday, Russian forces said they were
focusing air and artillery raids on the eastern city
of Gudermes, about 35-kilometers east of Grozny.
Seizing Gudermes would be a major step towards full
Russian control of eastern Chechnya, but the city is
heavily fortified. A military spokesman says Russian
forces had captured several villages in the region and
were surrounding others.
In Moscow, Russian President Boris Yeltsin called
Chechnya a center of international terrorism that, in
his words, must be destroyed once and for all.
/// YELTSIN ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
Mr. Yeltsin said Russian soldiers are bringing peace
and order to the long-suffering Chechen land. He said
the Russian troops are showing their courage -- in his
words -- every hour, as they cleanse Chechnya of
bandits.
Russia began its campaign in the breakaway republic
after Chechen militants led two raids into neighboring
Dagestan in an attempt to establish an independent
Islamic state. Russian officials say Chechen
militants are also to blame for a series of deadly
apartment bombings. Militant leaders have denied
involvement in the bomb attacks and say the raids in
Dagestan were a response to Russian attacks on
villages. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/RAE
27-Oct-1999 09:41 AM EDT (27-Oct-1999 1341 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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