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DATE=1/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-257874
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Despite poor weather, Russian warplanes are 
pounding targets throughout Chechnya, carrying out 
dozens of sorties over the breakaway republic on 
Friday. V-O-A Moscow correspondent Eve Conant reports 
federal forces are also bombarding the southern rebel 
stronghold of Vedeno as part of a campaign to take 
control of Chechnya's mountains.
TEXT:  Russian military officials says troops are 
advancing into the Chechen capital, Grozny, in door-
to-door fightin. But heavy fog and snow are preventing 
helicopter gunships from providing close ground cover. 
Federal commanders say Chechen rebels have changed 
their tactics from frontal attacks to hit-and-run 
missions, targeting troops at nighttime or during 
times of heavy cloud cover. They say the rebels work 
in teams of 10 to 15 men and are well-armed and 
mobile.
Federal air and artillery raids are focused on what 
Russian officials describe as the rebel mountain 
stronghold of Vedeno.  A Russian military officer said 
almost all of the artillery of Russia's eastern forces 
has been brought to Vedeno to carry out the attacks. 
Russian news agencies report troops have blockaded 
Vedeno's southern outskirts and are trying to encircle 
the town. 
Military officials said they had interrupted their 
bombardment of the neighboring village of Serzhen-Yurt 
because of the number of civilians still trapped 
inside.
Independent news reports from the capital, Grozny, say 
groups of rebels have tried to break out of the 
besieged city but were forced back by Russian troops.
An estimated two-thousand guerillas are defending 
Grozny and rebel commanders say they will fight to 
last man. Russian officials, who at the start of the 
campaign said Grozny would be taken within days, have 
blamed their slow progress on difficult weather 
conditions. Russian generals have also admitted that 
unexpectedly strong rebel resistance has slowed their 
advance into the capital. (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/LTD/JO
07-Jan-2000 10:37 AM EDT (07-Jan-2000 1537 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.