DATE=7/6/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA / CHECHNYA (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-264134
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly
criticized government ministers for the suicide
bombings that killed at least 50-people in Chechnya.
Moscow Correspondent Peter Heinlein reports Mr.
Putin's harsh criticism came during an unscheduled
visit to Russia's north Caucasus military
headquarters.
TEXT: Russian television showed Interior Minister
Vladimir Rushailo and Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev
standing uneasily at attention while President Putin
charged them with failing to adequately protect the
lives of their troops in Chechnya.
As a group of generals and senior security officials
looked on, the Russian leader first addressed his
defense minister.
/// PUTIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO. ///
He says - no one relieved you of the responsibility
for heading this military operation. So I ask you to
fulfill the task until ordered otherwise.
Mr. Putin had equally harsh words for Interior
Minister Rushailo.
/// 2ND PUTIN ACT IN RUSSIAN, THEN FADE TO. ///
He says - I must warn the interior minister. We must
act more decisively, consistently and forcefully."
Mr. Putin told the ministers they should try to hire
more Chechens for security duty, because locals are
better able to distinguish between friends and enemies
among the civilian population.
The Russian leader's comments came during a surprise
visit to the military headquarters in Mozdok, in the
North Ossetia region bordering Chechnya. But as he
spoke, another car bomb blast killed at least two
policemen in the neighboring Dagestan region.
In the wake of Sunday's suicide attacks, senior
officials in Moscow blamed poor discipline among
troops, including heavy drinking and bribe taking. In
most cases, the suicide bombers made it past military
checkpoints and into towns nominally under government
control.
During his brief stop at the Mozdok military
headquarters, President Putin vowed to crush the
rebels, who control one-third of Chechnya 10-months
after Russia launched its military offensive in the
region.
But in separate comments Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman
Sergei Yastrzhembsky said he does not expect an early
end to the war. And the state-run Itar-Tass news
agency quoted intelligence sources predicting a new
wave of rebel attacks.
An Internet website operated by the rebels reports a
sharp increase in the number of people volunteering
for suicide bomb missions. After Sunday's bombings, a
rebel spokesman said as many as 500 suicide bombers
were standing by, waiting for orders to strike. But
the website says that number is now approaching 600,
with more volunteers turning up daily. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/GE/RAE
06-Jul-2000 08:33 AM EDT (06-Jul-2000 1233 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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