CHECHNYA: NEAR GROZNY: RUSSIAN TROOPS CLOSE IN

(2 Feb 2000) Natural Sound

Emboldened by news that their enemies have slipped away, Russian soldiers have pressed on toward the shattered center of Grozny and fought to root out remaining militants.

The rattle of automatic gunfire and occasional explosions of tank and artillery shells echoed off shattered buildings.

Moscow's troops appeared to be making faster progress than at any time over the past five weeks, but still met with persistent resistance.

Russian forces backed by tanks and artillery have battled for the several days to prevent Chechen militants from reaching rebel forces in the southern mountains.

The Chechen fighters had managed to break through the Russian blockade of Grozny and slip out of the Chechen capital.

As many as 2-thousand escaped this week, making their way through the minefields set up by the Russian forces around the beleaguered city

Chechen warlord and Russia's "public enemy number one" Shamil Basayev reportedly led a large group of fighters to the nearby village of Alkhan-Kala.

Russian troops moved in on Tuesday to encircle Alkhan-Kala and shell the settlement with artillery and helicopter gunships.

An APTN photographer went along with one of the Russian soldiers involved in the attack on Alkhan-Kala.

They met stiff rebel resistance upon entering the village.

The Russian troops also said that much of the city was mined.

On the ruins of some buildings was scrawled the warning, «Mines,» while graffiti on others proclaimed «Death to Russians» and «Grozny Is Invincible.»

But the Russian soldiers' morale seemed buoyed by the rebels fleeing, and reflected their commanders' repeated predictions that they would soon take the Chechen capital.

About 2-thousand rebels escaped Grozny on Monday and Tuesday, although they said that up to one-quarter of their men were killed when they stumbled into a minefield and were mowed down by Russian artillery.

Several rebels alleged they were deceived by Russian promises to give them safe passage out of the capital.

The military has tried to play down the breakout, affirming that smaller groups have fled the city but asserting that Russian troops have repelled most such attempts.

In fact, the rebels' exodus has frustrated the Russian strategy of wiping out the Chechen fighters in Grozny and ending the war before they can mount a widespread guerrilla campaign.

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