DATE=4/27/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L-ONLY, UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-261765
BYLINE=OWEN FAY
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: President-elect Vladimir Putin has reiterated
Russia's hardline policy in the breakaway Chechnya
region. Meanwhile, details are emerging of heavy
losses suffered by Russian troops. Owen Fay reports
from Moscow.
TEXT: Speaking at a cabinet meeting, President-elect
Vladimir Putin made it clear a return to normal life
in Chechnya is desirable, but the war in the breakaway
region will not end before the rebel army is crushed.
/// ACT PUTIN IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER ///
President-elect Putin adds that the rebel threat has
largely been done away with, and that conversations
about reconstruction in Chechnya can begin soon.
/// SECOND ACT PUTIN IN RUSSIAN IN FULL AND FADE UNDER
///
Mr. Putin says - whatever they say and however big our
problems and casualties are down there, the fact is
that there is no bandit power there anymore. Mr.
Putin also says - there are no organized armed bands
anymore and there never again will be.
But the comments from the Russian leader appear at
odds with reports from Chechnya during the past 24-
hours. A spokesman for the Chechen rebels says 28
Russian soldiers were killed in two separate ambushes.
Chechen spokesman Movladi Udugov says 20 Russian
troops died at the mouth of the strategically
important Argun Gorge, located in southern Chechnya.
The Chechen spokesman reported no casualties among the
rebel fighters.
In the official Russian account of the attack, 10
federal troops died in the fighting and more than 20
rebel fighters were killed.
The second ambush occurred in the town of Shatoi,
south of the Chechen capital, Grozny. Rebels say 10
Russian soldiers and one rebel fighter were killed.
The Kremlin has yet to confirm or deny these casualty
figures.
The attacks fit into a wider pattern of recent
fighting in Chechnya. They may be leading to the
scenario the Russian army most wants to avoid, in
which improving weather conditions mean ambushes and
deadly rebel raids are on the rise. (SIGNED)
NEB/OF/GE/RAE
27-Apr-2000 08:26 AM EDT (27-Apr-2000 1226 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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