DATE=2/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-259398
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russia's Acting President Vladimir Putin vows
to destroy all rebels in breakaway Chechnya as federal
forces carry on their military offensive in the
republic's southern mountains. Moscow Correspondent
Eve Conant reports Russian troops are searching the
Chechen capital, Grozny, for landmines and remaining
fighters.
TEXT: Acting President Putin says Russians have faith
in the their army. He promoted several of his top
generals in the Chechnya campaign and promised to
carry out what he calls Moscow's - anti-terrorist
operation - until the last rebels are destroyed.
/// ACT PUTIN IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER ///
He says -I can now say with certainty that the
Chechnya operation will come to its logical end. Mr.
Putin explains that by logical end he means the
complete liberation of Russian territories and what he
calls - the full restoration of Russian control and
state integrity.
Russia's Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev, speaking at a
military parade in the Chechen capital Grozny, says
troops are clearing the city to make it safe for
civilians.
/// ACT SERGEYEV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE ///
He says - Grozny will be closed until troops clear it
of landmines, destroy buildings which are dangerous
for civilians and establish control there. After
that, he says, the city will be passed on to other
authorities.
Defense Minister Sergeyev says Russian forces in the
southern mountains are trying to encircle fighters in
the Argun Gorge to prevent them from staging
counterattacks against Russian troops.
/// ACT SERGEYEV IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE ///
He says - the final stage of our operation is close to
the end, the main thing is to prevent rebels from
escaping. Mr. Sergeyev says - we must crush them in
the small areas where we have pushed them.
Russian forces Monday rained bombs on rebel targets in
Chechnya's southern mountains, where officials
estimate seven-thousand fighters are based. The
Russian military news agency said troops had prevented
rebels from breaking out of the Argun Gorge.
But the rebel's Internet website says fighters have
pulled out of a strategic village in the gorge that
Russian forces say they have encircled. Russia's air
force says it is carrying out 80 to 100-sorties per
day to cover ground troops in the mountains and to
attack rebel hideouts. (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/GE/RAE
21-Feb-2000 10:34 AM EDT (21-Feb-2000 1534 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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