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DATE=12/12/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA/CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257073
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russian military officials say they are 
focusing air and artillery attacks in southern areas 
of Chechnya, while attacks on the capital, Grozny, 
remain suspended.  The Russian military says Chechen 
fighters are fortifying their positions inside Grozny 
as they prepare for escalated attacks. V-O-A Moscow 
correspondent Eve Conant reports.
TEXT:  Russian military officials say Chechen fighters 
are using the lull in fighting to build fortifications 
and plant mines throughout the city.  They accuse 
fighters of blocking the exit of tens of thousands of 
civilians trapped inside the capital.
But Chechen officials say many of the estimated 10 to 
40 thousand residents are too old or sick to travel, 
and that many others simply did not know of the 
warnings to leave because they were hiding out in 
basements.
Russian generals say they will guarantee the safety of 
civilians wishing to leave Grozny through several 
humanitarian corridors.  Russian news agencies report 
federal planes are dropping more leaflets over the 
city, urging rebels to lay down their arms and the 
civilian population to evacuate. 
Despite backtracking from what was initially the 
military's Saturday deadline for residents to leave, 
President Boris Yeltsin said Sunday Moscow had no 
plans to moderate the Chechnya campaign.
Mr. Yeltsin said, "terrorists are keeping their people 
in fear" and that Russia must keep what he called a 
"firm hand to stem lawlessness" in the breakaway 
republic.
Military officials say there are no plans to storm, 
but that special units would carry out commando-style 
operations to seize the capital.
Military officials say for now they are concentrating 
attacks in southern parts of Chechnya and are 
preparing to stage attacks from Chechnya's eastern 
neighbor, Dagestan.
Russian news agencies report federal aviation on 
Sunday carried out attacks on targets in the Argun 
valley gorge and in the foothills of Chechnya's 
southern mountainous region.
Military sources say troops have tightened their grip 
on the town of Shali, one of the last separatist-held 
towns in Chechnya's lowlands. (Signed)
NEB/EC/ALW/PLM
12-Dec-1999 07:31 AM EDT (12-Dec-1999 1231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.