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DATE=12/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257592
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russian forces are engaged in fierce battles 
with Chechen fighters in the regional capital, Grozny. 
Federal troops are also pushing towards what officials 
describe as rebel bases in the republic's southern 
mountains.  Correspondent Eve Conant in Moscow reports 
Chechen fighters are retreating from strategic 
positions in Grozny in order to reorganize their 
defense.
TEXT:  Russian military officials say troops are close 
to winning a key suburb of Grozny, but Chechen rebel 
fighters are putting up stiff resistance.  Russia's 
military says Chechen fighters have mined many of the 
roads leading into Grozny and battles are raging in 
several districts. 
Russia's military Deputy Chief of Staff, General 
Valery Manilov, says Russian troops have seized 
control of Grozny's northwestern district.
      ///  MANILOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///
He says - this is complicated and bloody work.  But we 
are achieving our goal of isolating the rebels from 
one another.
Chechnya's President Aslan Maskhakov confirmed that 
fighters had withdrawn towards the center of Grozny to 
reorganize their lines of defense.
Russia's Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev says Russian 
troops are also gaining ground in Grozny's Staraya 
Sunzha region, and that federal losses were being kept 
to a minimum.
     ///  SERGEYEV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER  ///
He says there will be no full-scale attacks.  He says 
that in his opinion, the Russian military operation in 
Chechnya is ending its active phase.
Chechen spokesman Movladi Udugov said rebels had 
retreated from two hills overlooking Grozny as well as 
from some positions in the Sharoi region of Chechnya's 
southern mountains.  He said the fighters made, what 
he called, a tactical retreat in order to regroup.  He 
added that Chechen fighters had pushed back Russian 
troops in other mountainous areas and that federal 
casualties were high. 
Both sides boast of inflicting heavy casualties on the 
enemy.  But there is no way to confirm the numbers, 
and both sides have tended to exaggerate such figures 
in the past.
Russian television news showed pictures of Russian 
troops shelling rebel positions near the mountain 
village of Vedeno.  The Interfax news agency reports 
federal troops are preparing to storm the village the 
military says is controlled by fighters loyal to 
Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev. 
Russia began its military offensive in the North 
Caucasus last August, after accusing Mr. Basayev of 
leading an invasion into neighboring Dagestan.   
(SIGNED) 
NEB/EC/JWH/LTD/RAE
29-Dec-1999 09:11 AM EDT (29-Dec-1999 1411 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.