DATE=1/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-258004
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// ADDS DENIAL TROOPS IN GEORGIA SOLD WEAPONS TO
REBELS, CHECHEN PRESIDENT APPEAL FOR NEGOTIATIONS, AND
SECURITY COUNCIL REPORT OF EXPLOSIVES FOUND ///
INTRO: Russia's military says it is advancing in
several parts of Chechnya, despite a daring series of
rebel counterattacks in federally-occupied towns.
Moscow Correspondent Eve Conant reports Russian
security officials say they have uncovered further
evidence of Chechen involvement in a series of
apartment blasts in Russia earlier this year.
TEXT: Russian generals say troops have restored
control over several federally-occupied towns that
suffered a series of rebel counterattacks. But there
are conflicting reports of fighting in those areas and
other Russian-controlled territories said to have been
cleared of rebels weeks ago.
Russian news agencies say troops fired artillery at
targets near Argun, Shali, and Urus-Martan. There
were also conflicting reports of fighting in Achkhoi-
Martan and Gudermes, Chechnya's second largest city.
A Russian military officer in Shali told reporters his
men would be more careful about clearing occupied
villages of rebels.
/// ACT OFFICER IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE ///
He says - in order to prevent rebels from breaking in
again, we need to thoroughly block off the village
once more, that way our special troops can better
carry out passport and weapons checks.
Guards at the Chechen-Ingush border said they were
under orders not to let any male Chechens over 10-
years-old and under 60 in or out of Chechnya.
Federal artillery pounded the rebel capital, Grozny,
and fierce fighting raged on the ground. Military
officials said there were high rebel casualties and
claimed to have blocked an attempt by a group of
rebels to escape the city.
Russia's military says it has seized the heights
overlooking the mountain village of Sharoi, and rebels
are now prevented from getting reinforcements,
weapons, and supplies to their hideouts.
/// OPT /// In a separate development, Russia's
Defense Minister, Igor Sergeyev denied charges by
Georgian officials that Russian troops have sold
weapons to the rebels. Moscow officials called the
reports a - provocation. Mr. Sergeyev said troops
were now on the offensive in Chechnya.
/// ACT SERGEYEV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE ///
He says - we have carried out two surprise operations
against the rebels. He says that one operation
involving paratroopers in the mountains created what
he called - serious difficulties for the bandits. ///
END OPT ///
Chechnya's President Aslan Maskhadov has reiterated
calls for negotiations with Moscow. His spokesman
said the Chechen president wanted talks to take place
before, in his words - the number of civilian
casualties increases and the situation spins out of
control.
The appeal comes as Russia's Security Council says
federal troops have uncovered evidence that Chechens
were involved in a series of Russian apartment
bombings earlier this year - a charge rebels have
consistently denied. Council officials say troops
found tons of explosives near the Chechen town of
Urus-Martan that were similar to those used in the
apartment blasts that killed more than 300-people.
(SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GE/RAE
12-Jan-2000 12:55 PM EDT (12-Jan-2000 1755 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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