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DATE=3/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L)
NUMBER=2-260431
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Russia's military says it is carrying out a 
mopping-up operation in the southern Chechen village 
of Komsomolskoye.  Correspondent Eve Conant in Moscow 
reports Russia's military says hundreds of rebels were 
killed in two-weeks of fighting for control of the 
village.
TEXT:  The village of Komsomolskoye, located at the 
mouth of the Argun Gorge leading into Chechnya's 
mountains, has been almost completely destroyed after 
more than two-weeks of air and artillery attacks.
Russian news agencies say (Tuesday) federal forces 
raised the Russian flag over the village, and that 
more than 70-rebels gave up their weapons the day 
before.  The reports say rebels are still in the area 
and that federal troops were carrying out document 
checks of all inhabitants. 
Russia's military says hundreds of rebels were killed 
in the fighting, with only dozens of federal 
casualties.  The report could not be independently 
confirmed.
// OPT //  The reports said Russia's military expects 
more than 100-rebels still inside the village to 
surrender shortly.  // END OPT //
Russia's military had previously claimed to have 
seized control of Komsomolskoye, but rebel resistance 
continued.  Chechen rebels are inflicting increasingly 
heavy casualties on Russian troops as they move into 
the mountains where guerrilla combat is easier. 
A Kremlin spokesman said (Tuesday) there was no change 
in Moscow's stance on peace talks, and that there 
would be no negotiations with Chechen fighters. 
Russian warplanes continue to target rebel positions 
in the mountains.  Russia's military estimates more 
than one-thousand rebels are hiding in mountains, and 
that as many as one-thousand are disguised as 
civilians in the northern lowlands.
Russian officials had said the war in Chechnya could 
be over before presidential elections March 26th.  But 
rebels have vowed to carry on with their fight against 
Russian troops, often attacking federal positions far 
inside Russian-controlled territory.   (SIGNED)
NEB/EC/JWH/RAE
21-Mar-2000 11:21 AM EDT (21-Mar-2000 1621 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.