CHECHNYA: GROZNY: HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES (2)

(17 Jan 2000) Russian/Nat

Heavy fighting continued in and around the Chechen capital Grozny on Monday with Russian troops pressing ahead with a military onslaught aimed at crushing the rebels' resistance.

Federal aircraft targeted Grozny, where ground troops have advanced cautiously to avoid the heavy losses suffered in the 1994-96 Chechen campaign.

The airstrikes and artillery barrages were some of the heaviest in weeks.

But rebel fighters on the streets of Grozny who spoke to A-P-T-N said they were undaunted and were ready to fight on.

Russia's top commander in Chechnya, Lt. Gen. Gennady Troshev, said on Monday the military is intent on seizing the Chechen capital Grozny, and that its offensive was now in a "decisive phase."

However, Troshev said soldiers would not move into the city centre yet, as the city was suffering an "ecological catastrophe" because of smoke from fires and chemical stores allegedly blown up by the rebels.

In Moscow, Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev also said today that Russia's military offensive was nearing its final stage.

But here in Grozny, there is no sign, that the rebels are in a defeatist mood.

Although Russian forces have continued to tighten their noose around Grozny, the rebels inside the city claim they have no shortage of food and ammunition and will be battle ready for many weeks.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian):
"We don't have any problem with food supplies at all - in fact we've got so much we even share it sometimes with civilians... And ammo - loads, more than we could use."
SUPER CAPTION: Rebel commander (Name not given)

They confidently say they will fight until the end.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian):
"We much prefer fighting against Russian special troops or mercenaries, because we don't really fancy abusing those young Russian conscripts."
SUPER CAPTION: Rebel commander (Name not given)

Mobile and well entrenched, the rebels have shown an impressive ability to dodge Russian air and artillery attacks.

But for thousands of unarmed, hungry, and freezing civilians under siege the reality is far bleaker: they have to contend with a day-to-day existence fraught with danger.

Chechen rebels say the Russian army has been fighting a dirty war and even accused the Russian army of trying to pass off the bodies of dead civilians as slain rebel fighters.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian):
"Yesterday a Russian officer who used the nickname "the Skull" contacted us over the CB radio and offered to swap the bodies of what he called "killed Chechen fighters" for the captured Russian soldiers that we hold. I don't believe they actually have the bodies of our guys, I think that they just killed some civilians and want us to think that they killed our guys. But they are mistaken - we won't give them back their soldiers."
SUPER CAPTION: Chechen Rebel (Name not given)

Moscow's offensive continues to claim civilian lives in and around the Chechen capital.

This in spite of acting Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent promise that Chechen civilians would never be sacrificed for the sake of a military goal.

The plight of civilians in Grozny who refused - or were unable - to leave the besieged city is being dictated by Russian air and artillery attacks.

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