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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 April - 3 May 2000 Issue No. 479 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 27 April - 3 May 2000 Issue No. 479
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Features Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Chechnya won't fall
By Abdel-Malek KhalilWhile President-elect Vladimir Putin was touring Central Russia this week after his sweeping victory in the 26 March presidential elections, Russian armed forces were suffering heavy losses in Chechnya.
Chechan rebels reportedly ambushed a government military column on Tuesday at the entrance of the Argun Gorge, in the vicinity of the republic's southern mountains. Russian officials also admitted that fighting has resumed in the Chechan capital Grozny -- which is presumably occupied by the Russian army. Moscow claims that Grozny fell to federal government forces in February after a four-month intensive air and artillery assault, but it is clear that the defeat has never been secure.
Russian military sources played down the Chechan ambush, claiming at first that the battle lasted for about one hour and that only a few Russian soldiers were injured. But Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev acknowledged Monday that 15 soldiers died and six were injured.
Other reports, however, claim the military has radically watered down the event. NTV, a private television channel, reported that the confrontation involved Russian jets and helicopters and raged on for at least five hours and Chechan spokesman Movladi Udugov claims that some 80 Russian soldiers and officers were killed in the attack.
Adding a new sense of urgency to the seven-month war, Russian sources said that 500 well-armed Chechan fighters had infiltrated Grozny under the cover of the night to prepare for a counter-attack. Once limited to quick night-time hit-and-run raids, the Chechan Grozny sniper attacks are now spilling over into daytime.
The Chechan forces have made a comeback of sorts, but even though the conflict seems to be intensifying once again, the Kremlin still refuses to negotiate with the rebels. Moscow dismissed Chechan overtures to negotiate with separatist President Aslan Maskhadov, whose rule Moscow regards as illegal.
"In order to hold talks with Maskhadov, he first must fulfil a whole list of conditions," Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo said in a televised interview. "This includes the hand-over of rebel leaders, the immediate release of all hostages being held in Chechnya, and a whole range of other conditions. As far as we understand, he cannot meet these conditions at this time, so the question of holding talks with him is simply irrelevant."
