-Caveat Lector- WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED] Peace at any cost is a prelude to war! Monday, 27 December, 1999, 22:44 GMT Chechens resist Russian offensive The Russian offensive on the Chechen capital Grozny has met fierce resistance from rebels entrenched in the city and the mountains to the south. Moscow-backed Chechen fighters loyal to former Grozny mayor Bislan Gantamirov, encountered heavy fire from fighters on the ground with both sides taking losses, Interfax news agency reported. Roads are said to be heavily mined. Russian jets and helicopters flew 50 sorties in the 24 hours to Monday morning, dropping aerosol bombs on rebel bases, caves and fortifications in southern Chechnya in an attempt to cut off supply routes over the mountains from Georgia. Aerosol bombs release a large cloud of inflammable gas and cause massive explosions that can clear out bunkers. Attacks intensify There was fighting around Vedeno and Kharachoi on a major southern road to Georgia. Continuous artillery fire was reported overnight and into Monday, with the intensity sharply increasing after daybreak. Grad multiple-launch missiles were being fired at Grozny and tanks were on overlooking heights. Bislan Gantamirov said his forces seized the northwestern district of Staropromyslovsky on Monday. He said another group of pro-Moscow fighters were moving through Staraya Sunzha in eastern Grozny, adding that he had no doubt that the city would fall before the end of the year. Click here to see a map of Grozny and surrounding areas Russia launched its earlier failed attack on Grozny on New Year's Eve 1994, so a victory achieved by the anniversary would have a particular significance. There are reports of strategic differences between rebel commanders, with some wanting to abandon the city because the Russians control the surrounding heights. However Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov wants to continue defending the city. There are estimated to be at least 2,000 well-armed rebels still in Grozny. 'According to plan' In Moscow, Russian Prime Vladimir Putin has repeated his promise that the Chechen capital Grozny will soon be taken - but three days after a major assault was launched, progress appears slow. Russia says it lost four soldiers on Sunday, but the true number may be higher "The operation in Chechnya is going according to plan," Mr Putin said in televised comments after meeting President Boris Yeltsin in the Kremlin. Moscow says 397 servicemen have been killed and 1,040 wounded since the start of operations in Chechnya, a relatively small figure compared to losses in the 1994-96 Chechnya war. Local residents in western Chechnya say the bodies of 50 or 60 fighters have been brought out of the war zone for burial, which may indicate that Russian troops are making some progress. Warning to the West Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov has warned Western countries not to threaten Moscow with sanctions over Chechnya. "The language of sanctions is not one you can use to address Russia with," he said. "Several of our Western partners find it very hard to move away from "Cold War" stereotypes." He added: "We need dialogue (for the West) to understand what is happening in the North Caucasus." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- **COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
