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DATE=1/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257835
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russia's military says it is gaining ground in 
the Chechen capital, Grozny, and has surrounded the 
key rebel-held city of Vedeno in Chechnya's south.  
But as Moscow Correspondent Eve Conant reports, 
Russian commanders are admitting to more casualties in 
the Chechnya campaign as rebels continue to mount 
fierce resistance to Russian troops.
TEXT:  Despite reports that Russian forces are stalled 
in their advance on Grozny, Russia's military says it 
is progressing toward the city center and fighting 
back attempts by rebels to escape the capital.  
Officials say more than 100-rebels died in recent 
street-fighting. 
But Chechen rebels say they staged successful 
counterattacks in several villages bordering Grozny 
and report high Russian casualties.
Top Russian Commander General Vladimir Shamanov says 
rebels attempted several counterattacks, but they 
cannot break out. 
  /// ACT SHAMANOV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE ///
He says - not one rebel can escape the tight ring 
around them, and they understand this perfectly.
Both Chechens and Russians have been boasting of 
victory in battle, and both sides have tended to 
exaggerate enemy casualties in the past.  
  /// ACT SHAMANOV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE ///
General Shamanov says - the Chechens are trying to 
show that their morale is high, but they know that 
their best option is to give up.
But in a sign that Russian forces are facing tough 
resistance, newly released Russian casualty figures 
show more than 450-troops killed and more than 15-
hundred injured since fighting began in September.  
Casualty figures are difficult to confirm 
independently.
Military sources say federal paratroopers are 
surrounding the rebel stronghold of Vedeno, a 
strategic village in Chechnya's rebel-held south.  At 
the same time, Chechen rebels have been launching hit 
and run attacks in the republic's Russian-controlled 
North.   (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GE/RAE 
06-Jan-2000 10:00 AM EDT (06-Jan-2000 1500 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.