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DATE=12/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256754
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russian military officials say Chechen 
militants have set up strong defenses in the capital, 
Grozny, and are fighting Russian troops in two towns 
near the city.  Russia's foreign minister, meanwhile, 
says Moscow will not let the West dictate when the 
head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
(O-S-C-E) in Europe will be allowed to visit Chechnya. 
V-O-A Moscow correspondent Eve Conant reports.
TEXT:  For days, Russian artillery and warplanes have 
been bombarding Argun, a small town five kilometers 
east of the Chechen capital, Grozny.  Rebel fighters 
in Argun are putting up some of the strongest 
resistance to federal troops since the start of 
Moscow's military offensive.  Russian General Gennady 
Troshev, however, says fighting in eastern regions has 
been successful.
            /// Troshev Act in Russian in full and 
fade under ///
"As a result of fighting there," he says, 
"more than 100 rebels were killed. This time," he 
adds, "they left at least 40 bodies behind them."
Russian television broadcast pictures of what military 
officials say are dozens of Chechen fighters killed in 
the latest fighting.  General Troshev says Russian 
forces will continue their offensive despite an 
increased number of violent clashes with Chechen 
militants.
            /// Troshev Act in Russian in full and 
fade under ///
"Our strategy is simple. If they shoot at us from a 
house, we destroy the house," he says. "If they shoot 
from all over a village, we destroy the village."
Military sources say thousands of Chechen fighters are 
well entrenched in Grozny.  Russian news agencies 
report Russian warplanes have been dropping high 
explosive bombs on the city, while Chechen fighters in 
Argun and nearby Urus-Martan are fighting back with 
large supplies of anti-aircraft guns, grenade 
launchers and small arms.
Meanwhile, there is little sign that international 
observers or humanitarian groups will be able to enter 
the region any time soon.  In Moscow, Foreign Minister 
Igor Ivanov told reporters that Russia would not let 
the West dictate the timing of a visit to Chechnya by 
O-S-C-E chief Knut Vollebaek.  Earlier this week, Mr. 
Vollebaek visited to Moscow to arrange the trip, but 
Russian officials would not set a date for his group 
to visit the breakaway republic. (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/JP
02-Dec-1999 10:43 AM EDT (02-Dec-1999 1543 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.