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DATE=12/24/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257453
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russian officials are predicting victory in 
Chechnya in just a few weeks, but ground forces in and 
around the rebel capital, Grozny, are struggling to 
defeat thousands of Chechen fighters remaining in the 
city.  V-O-A Moscow Correspondent Eve Conant reports 
Russian forces are pounding targets throughout the 
entire breakaway republic.
TEXT:  Plumes of dark smoke can be seen over Grozny as 
Russian forces try to inch closer to the city center.  
But they are being met with stiff resistance.  
Grozny's concrete ruins and Soviet-era bunkers benefit 
guerilla style warfare over heavy machinery.  Heavy 
fighting between troops and rebels is reported in the 
city's southern and southwestern districts. 
Jets and helicopter gunships are also pounding rebel 
positions in Chechnya's eastern border areas and 
southern mountains.  Russia's military has dropped 
paratroopers into the steep mountain gorges and troops 
have crossed in from the east to attack rebel military 
bases from several sides.  Russian military officials 
say troops prevented several attempts by Chechen 
fighters to escape south across the border into 
Georgia. 
Russian commanders say they expect to control 
Chechnya's mountains within a few weeks.  There was 
little information from Chechen militants, but a 
Chechen commander says his forces shot down a Russian 
helicopter in the southern Shatoi district.
Russian news agencies report Russian commander 
Vladimir Shamanov has been temporarily removed from 
his duties while the military investigates allegations 
that Russian troops massacred as many as 50 civilians 
in the village of Alkhan-Yurt.  Russia's defense 
minister would  not  confirm the report and said 
General Shamanov "continues to carry out his duties."
Russian television showed pictures of Chechen 
militants standing beside what they said were Russian 
soldiers killed during an ambush on Grozny's downtown 
Minutka Square earlier this month.  The pictures, 
taken by foreign news agencies, are some of the more 
graphic pictures yet seen on Russian television.  
(Signed)
NEB/EC/JWH/KL
24-Dec-1999 07:41 AM EDT (24-Dec-1999 1241 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.