DATE=1/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-258081
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russia's Defense Ministry is denying high
federal casualty figures as its troops battle for
control of Chechnya. There were conflicting reports
Friday as to whether Russian soldiers had reopened
Chechnya's borders after initially blocking the
passage of all Chechen males between the ages of ten
and 60. Moscow correspondent Eve Conant reports
Russian officials are blasting the United States for
meeting with a Chechen envoy.
TEXT: Russian forces are on high alert, carrying out
door-to-door searches for rebels in federally held
towns and digging trenches to fend off rebel
counterattacks. Russian news agencies said federal
forces were preparing for possible attacks against the
towns of Urus-Martan and Achkoi-Martan. Generals
described the situation there as "tense."
Reports from the Chechnya-Ingushetia border said men
were seen entering and leaving Chechnya. But a
regional leader says civilian males are still not
being allowed across. A temporary measure blocking
their passage led to widespread criticism from
international and regional leaders that Russia was
violating human rights by obstructing civilians from
leaving a war zone.
Russia's Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, blasted
(criticized) U-S officials for holding talks with a
senior Chechen official, saying the meeting raised
serious concern in Russia.
/// Ivanov Act in Russian in full and fade
under ///
"This action demonstrates support for terrorists and
separatists, and not only in Russia," he says. "We can
only hope the United States is not going to change its
position regarding our territorial integrity and right
to carry out decisive steps against terrorists."
More than thirty federal soldiers were reported killed
and dozens injured in recent clashes. Russia's
Defense Ministry quickly denied the figures - some of
the highest since the offensive began. A Russia
general called the casualty figures "lies" that
threatened support for the military campaign.
Russian news agencies say Russian forces plan to
launch offensives in both Grozny and Chechnya's rebel-
held southern mountains. They quote the armed forces
chief of staff, General Anatoly Kvashnin, as saying
the capital, Grozny, would soon be "liberated" from
Chechen fighters. He said troops were advancing step-
by-step to limit casualties because, in his words, "it
would be madness to rush in."
/// Kvashnin Act in Russian in full and
fade under ///
"Grozny is fully surrounded," he says, "and we are
preparing to free it as well as other areas."
Russian news agencies say federal warplanes and
artillery are pounding rebel positions in the capital,
and troops are fighting rebels from trenches in some
neighborhoods. Clashes were also reported on the
outskirts of Russian-occupied Gudermes, Chechnya's
second largest city. (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/ENE/JP
14-Jan-2000 12:59 PM EDT (14-Jan-2000 1759 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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