DATE=1/15/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CAUCASUS (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258097
BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian troops stepped up their attacks
against fighters in the breakaway Chechen republic
(today/Saturday), after saying they had regained
ground lost when Chechen rebels counterattacked a week
ago.
TEXT: Russian warplanes are carrying out almost
constant bombing raids over the Chechen capital,
Grozny.
One raid reportedly set an oil refinery on fire,
spewing thick black smoke over the city.
The Russians also continue pounding suspected rebel
positions with heavy artillery as ground troops try to
push further into the city.
In this way Russian forces want to regain the momentum
lost when the Chechens counterattacked a week ago.
The Defense Ministry also denies news reports that the
troops are suffering a high number of casualties. A
statement calls such reports "conscious lies."
But accounts from individual soldiers have indicated
the number of deaths and injuries are on the rise --
leading some Russian media commentators to question
the Kremlin's strategy in Chechnya after months of
almost total support for the military operation.
There are few independent accounts of the fighting,
due to tight restrictions on reporters' access to
Chechnya. However, there is little doubt the past
week has seen a number of setbacks for the Russian
campaign.
For their part, the Chechens insist the tide of battle
has been turned.
In a newspaper interview, Chechen President Aslan
Maskhadov said 40-thousand fighters remain in Grozny,
and will resist with everything they've got [with all
their strength]. The Russians say there are no more
than four-thousand fighters in the embattled Chechen
capital. (Signed)
NEB/WG/WTW
15-Jan-2000 05:12 AM EDT (15-Jan-2000 1012 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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