DATE=2/1/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-258678
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Chechen rebels say they have abandoned
the capital, Grozny, in what they called a
tactical retreat. But as V-O-A's Peter Heinlein
reports from Moscow, Russian officials say
fighting is continuing.
TEXT: Rebel spokesman Movladi Udugov told
reporters by satellite telephone that all Chechen
fighters evacuated Grozny in the early morning
hours. He said the force, estimated to be as many
as two-thousand rebels, is regrouping and plans
to fight on.
But despite the brave face, the rebels are
clearly in disarray.
Mr. Udugov reported the deaths of three Chechen
field commanders, including Aslanbek Ismailov,
who led the defense of Grozny, and the city's
mayor, Lechi Dudayev. Mr. Dudayev was the nephew
of former Chechen President Dzhokar Dudayev, who
was killed during the last war in 1996.
Witnesses Tuesday said several commanders died
when a group of retreating fighters stumbled into
a minefield on the outskirts of the capital.
There were also unconfirmed reports that top
rebel commander Shamil Basayev was seriously
wounded.
But both Russian and Chechen sources in Chechnya
say despite Mr. Udugov's announcement, clashes
are still taking place in and around Grozny. In
Moscow, government spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky
told a news conference that reports of a rebel
withdrawal are premature.
///YASTRZHEMBSKY ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO///
He says, "If they had left Grozny, we would have
told you about it." He pointed out that rebels
are continually trying to get out of the city,
and said fighting continues at several locations.
Mr. Yastrzhembsky did confirm, however, that
federal troops captured Minutka Square, the
strategic intersection near the center of the
city. Russian television showed pictures of
troops raising a Russian flag over the rebel
capital.
And the commander of Russian forces in Chechnya,
General Victor Kazantzev, told a television
reporter Tuesday a turning point had been reached
in the capital.
/// KAZANTSEV ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO. ///
He says, "We have achieved a decisive
breakthrough. In the near future, we can talk
about the complete liberation of Grozny."
Russian troops Tuesday seemed to be turning their
attention to other rebel strongholds in southern
Chechnya. Military sources say federal jets and
helicopter gunships flew 180 combat missions over
Chechnya, most of them aimed at rebel strongholds
in the south. (Signed)
NEB/PFH/GE/KL
01-Feb-2000 08:57 AM EDT (01-Feb-2000 1357 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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