DATE=3/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-260063
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russia's acting president, Vladimir
Putin, suggests Moscow may introduce direct
presidential rule in the breakaway republic of
Chechnya. His comments come as Russian forces in
Chechnya are trying to keep rebels from breaking
out of federal traps and fanning out into the
Russian-occupied lowlands. Correspondent Eve
Conant in Moscow reports.
TEXT: Acting President Vladimir Putin told the
Russian business newspaper, "Kommersant," Chechen
rebels must be dispersed and destroyed but that
the campaign was in its final phase. He said
that after this month's election Moscow could, in
his words, "introduce direct presidential rule in
Chechnya for a few years."
Moscow has accused Chechnya's president, Aslan
Maskhadov, of supporting illegal armed groups and
has refused all overtures from the Chechen leader
calling for peace talks.
Mr. Putin added that Moscow would focus on
rebuilding Chechnya's economy but would continue
to suppress armed resistance. On Friday, Mr.
Putin spoke at a meeting of Interior Ministers
from former Soviet republics.
/// ACT PUTIN IN RUSSIAN IN FULL, FADE UNDER ///
He says, "Russian society is united in fighting
terrorism and our soldiers have acted
heroically." He adds, "All countries must form a
single front against terrorists or they will
infiltrate in any way they can."
In Chechnya, Russian warplanes and artillery are
pounding the village of Komsomolskoye to prevent
rebels who seized the village from breaking out.
Reports from the region describe the besieged
village as completely destroyed with only a few
buildings left standing.
Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev on Friday
responded to a Russian reporter's question about
federal casualties near the village of Ulus-Kert.
/// ACT SERGEYEV IN RUSSIAN, FADE UNDER ///
The defense minister answers that more than 80
soldiers from one division were killed.
Official government reports first put the number
of casualties from a several day battle at Ulus-
Kert at just over thirty. Russian authorities
have often underestimated the number of Russian
soldiers killed in the campaign in order to
maintain public support for the war. (Signed)
NEB/EC/GE/KL
10-Mar-2000 10:10 AM EDT (10-Mar-2000 1510 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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