DATE=10/31/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA - CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-255654
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russia is keeping up a fierce air and
artillery bombardment of Chechnya even as the
international community steps up its criticism of the
campaign. VOA Moscow correspondent Peter Heinlein
reports two Red Cross workers have been killed in an
attack on a refugee convoy.
TEXT: A statement from headquarters of the
International Red Cross in Geneva says two local
employees in Chechnya died Friday when two Russian
warplanes swooped down on a refugee convoy. At least
25 refugees were also killed in the attack.
The I-C-R-C communique said one vehicle in the convoy
had a large Red Cross emblem on the roof that was
easily visible from the air, and other cars were also
clearly marked.
At the time of the attack, the convoy was on its way
back to the Chechen capital, Grozny, after Russian
troops refused it permission to cross into neighboring
Ingushetia.
Russia strenuously denied its jets had attacked a
refugee convoy, saying the planes fired only after
being shot at from the ground. A Russian spokesman
said two trucks packed with Chechen militants were
destroyed.
The French news agency reports another group of
refugees was hit by Russian artillery fire Saturday
night while driving north, about 10 kilometers from
Grozny. The reported quoted an official in Chechen
President Aslan Maskhadov's office as saying 20 people
were killed. The report could not be independently
confirmed.
Russia's Interfax news agency reported Sunday that
federal troops have completely encircled Chechnya's
second city, Gudermes, 35 kilometers east of Grozny.
The city has been under heavy air attacks for several
days.
An estimated 190-thousand Chechens have already fled
the bombs, most of them to the relative safety of
Ingushetia. Ingush President Ruslan Aushev Saturday
said his tiny republic, which has a peacetime
population of only about 300-thousand, is on the brink
of a humanitarian disaster.
He was quoted as saying "many international
organizations have offered help, but the problem is
Moscow's bureaucracy, which considers there is no
catastrophe".
A European Union delegation headed by Finnish Foreign
Minister Tarja Halonen visited Ingushetia Saturday.
Ms. Halonen later urged Russia to reopen the border
with Chechnya, and to remove obstacles preventing the
delivery of western humanitarian aid.
U-S and western officials have repeatedly urged Moscow
to stop using excessive force and to avoid hitting
civilians. But Russian officials have shrugged off
the advice, saying they are punishing terrorists.
(Signed)
Neb/pfh/plm
31-Oct-1999 05:47 AM EDT (31-Oct-1999 1047 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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