• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=2/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-259257
BYLINE=BILL GASPERINI
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russian forces are pressing ahead with their 
bombardment of suspected Chechen positions in the 
Caucasus Mountains. Meanwhile in other parts of 
Chechnya, Russian officials have begun opening voter 
registration offices for the Russian presidential vote 
next month. Bill Gasperini in Moscow has this report.
TEXT:  Russian aircraft are pounding areas of the 
mountains as a build-up of troops there 
continues.
Russian generals say they plan on making what 
they call a "final strike" against thousands of 
Chechen fighters who are now in the mountains.
The military command claims to control the high 
ground overlooking two strategic mountain gorges 
that cut through the rugged terrain.
But Russian field commanders do acknowledge they 
are meeting "serious resistance" from Chechen 
rebels in both the Vedeno and Argun gorges.
The Chechens have long used roads that run 
through the gorges to bring in supplies.
As with the battle for the capital, Grozny, the
Russians are relying primarily on air power 
before sending in troops.
Bombing and shelling have primarily been directed 
at villages located near or inside the two 
gorges.
The Russians have now announced plans to seal off 
Grozny from civilians, saying that land mines 
buried there pose a real danger.
They say some militants may also try to reenter 
the city disguised as refugees.
Soldiers have been searching villages not far 
from Grozny looking for suspected militants.
In many cases, they have arrested young men and 
taken them to what they call "filtration camps," 
which have been criticized by human rights 
organizations.
Survivors say that torture and other forms of 
abuse are common in the camps, although Russian 
officials deny such charges.
Meanwhile in a sign of consolidating political 
control, Russian election officials have opened 
more than ten regional offices in Chechnya.
They say the offices are drawing up lists of 
potential voters for the coming Russian 
presidential election on March 26th. (Signed)
NEB/BG/GE 
17-Feb-2000 06:44 AM EDT (17-Feb-2000 1144 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.