DATE=12/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHECHNYA SITREP (L)
NUMBER=2-257030
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=THE HILLS OVERLOOKING GROZNY
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: As the Saturday deadline approaches for
civilians to get out of the Chechen capital Grozny,
only a few hundred have taken advantage of the Russian
offer of safe passage out of the city. VOA
correspondent Peter Heinlein reports from the
checkpoint where new arrivals are being processed
through by Russian troops.
TEXT: A line of ten cars flying white flags stands at
the Russian army checkpoint in the hills about four
kilometers outside Grozny. Checkpoint commander,
Lieutenant Colonel Serge Maslov says a total of only
four hundred people have passed through since the
corridor for safe passage from the embattled city was
opened Thursday.
Journalists visiting the checkpoint were allowed just
a few minutes with the refugees, who complained the
city is being bombed steadily. One officer came over
and told the newly arrived refugees bombing had been
halted. But the refugees began shouting, "not true",
and the journalist were ordered to leave.
From the hills overlooking Grozny, a cloud of black
smoke can be seen billowing in the distance and the
roar of explosions can be heard. But Russian soldiers
deny there has been any firing on Grozny. They
explain the explosion as dynamite that Russian troops
are using to build fortifications around the city.
Army officials say Grozny is completely surrounded.
Federal troops have taken up positions within a few
hundred meters of residential areas on the outskirts
and control all roads leading in.
The Russian controlled territory appears completely
cleared of civilians. The only non-combatants seen
are a few women and one man walking along a deserted
street carrying a white flag.
Russian officers at the front say they have received
word that rebels inside Grozny blew up a chlorine gas
tank Friday. The soldiers reported a cloud of toxic
gas was being blown west of the city by the breeze.
But from locations north of the city, it is impossible
to confirm those reports. Rebel lines of
communications have been cut since the early days of
Russia's military offensive in Chechnya, and there has
been a virtual blackout on news from inside Grozny for
weeks.
Estimates of the number of civilians still inside the
capital vary greatly. Russian commanders maintain the
city is almost deserted with no more than four
thousand people still hiding there. Other officials
though estimate the number may be as high as forty
thousand.
Several thousand armed Chechen fighters are also
believed to be dug in preparing to defend the city.
But with hours to go before the Saturday deadline, the
flow of civilians out is just barely a trickle.
(Signed)
NEB/PH/ENE-T/KL
10-Dec-1999 10:37 AM EDT (10-Dec-1999 1537 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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