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01.02.2000 RIA Novosti

SERGEI YASTRZHEMBSKY DISPROVES REPORTS ON MILITANTS LEAVING GROZNY

Reports on militants leaving Grozny and Shamil Basayev operated on in Alkhan-Kale are not accurate, Sergei Yastrzhembsky, the Russian Acting President's assistant for co-ordination of news and analysis work, told a Tuesday news conference.

Militants have not left the Chechen capital, a fierce fighting being still on, he said. Bandit groupings are making attempts to break through the blockade. On Tuesday night, in particular, militants failed to break through mined fields. The military expect such attempts to be resumed.

Western news media reports on Basayev who has allegedly undergone an operation in the city of Alkhan-Kale and nearly 2 thousand militants invading the city have not been fully confirmed, Yastrzhembsky stressed. The information was verified twice. So far, «I have found no reliable evidence to that», the presidential assistant said.

A militant unit had been blockaded near Alkhan-Kale, which could give rise to these reports, he said. The unit is being currently destroyed.

This kind of information is often circulated by terrorists whose "rumour factories" operate faultlessly, Sergei Yastrzhembsky noted. The rumours can be launched, in particular, to confuse federal forces, divert them from something really important, according to the presidential assistant.