DATE=12/19/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257290
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian warplanes have pounded the Chechen
capital, Grozny and rebel strongholds in the breakaway
republic as voters in the rest of the country cast
ballots in parliamentary elections. Moscow
Correspondent Peter Heinlein reports a meeting between
commanders on both sides ended inconclusively.
TEXT: Grozny came under a fresh barrage of air and
artillery attacks. The semi-official Interfax news
agency says warplanes and helicopters flew more than
60-sorties, pouring bombs on suspected rebel hideouts
in the largely destroyed capital.
Federal troops are said to have taken a southern
district of the city without a fight, and a Russian
general is predicting government forces will control
all of Grozny by New Years Day.
But commanders say they have no plans to storm the
city. The strategy appears to be to target one
district at a time, first pummeling it from the air to
drive Chechen fighters out, then moving in and taking
over the ruins.
Russian army Chief of Staff General Anatoly Kvashnin
reveals he held direct talks with representatives of
Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov during the past few
days. General Kvashnin told the state-run ITAR-Tass
news agency he bluntly pressed the rebel leadership
for an unconditional surrender, but made no progress.
Despite a steady barrage of international criticism,
the war enjoys wide popular support among Russians.
It has boosted the fortunes of both Prime Minister
Vladimir Putin and a pro-Kremlin party running in the
parliamentary election. The Unity Party, formed only
two-months ago, is expected to become one of the
largest factions in the Duma, the lower house of
parliament.
Saturday on the eve of the election, Prime Minister
Putin dismissed western news reports of heavy
casualties among civilians and Russian troops in
Chechnya as -- lies and propaganda. Russian news
agencies rarely report Russian or civilian casualties,
focusing instead on what are believed to be wildly
exaggerated reports of Chechen rebel losses.
Mr. Putin predicted relations with the West, badly
strained because of Russia's disproportionate use of
force in Chechnya, would improve rapidly once the
rebels were crushed.
President Boris Yeltsin's spokesman said Saturday the
Russian leader expects the war to be over by the time
he leaves office next August. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/DW/RAE
19-Dec-1999 10:29 AM EDT (19-Dec-1999 1529 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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