RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: DZHOKHAR DUDAYEV DEPORTATION CLAIM

Russian/nat

Chechnya's President on Saturday claimed he had proof the Russians have long been planning mass deportations of his people.

Speaking exclusively to APTV in the nearly besieged capital of Grozny, he produced documents which he alleged were signed by the Russian Prime Minister on December 1st.

He also said the Russians would have to resort to nuclear weapons to defeat Chechen forces.

While two of the Chechen army's few tanks patrolled outside the Presidential palace, inside President Dzhokhar Dudayev was ready to produce his supposed proof of Russia's plans for the Chechen people.

This document, he claimed, was outwardly an economic report on Chechnya. However, pointing to one of the pages he read the following, supposedly written by the Russian Immigration Service:

SOUNDBITE:
"In the next month we need to establish refugee camps on the Chechen territory."
SUPER CAPTION: Dzhokhar Dudayev, President of Chechnya

"Why?" - he asks in surprise.

He said the documents were signed by Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin on December 1st.

However, he wouldn't say how he got the papers or release a copy.

Sounding defiant, though, Dudayev said the Russians would never defeat the Chechens short of using nuclear weapons.

SOUNDBITE:

"The Russian government has nothing more to use against the Chechen people except nuclear weapons."

SUPER CAPTION: Dzhokhar Dudayev, President of Chechnya

Also in the Presidential palace is vice president Zelenkhan Yanderbiev, who, in another exclusive interview with APTV, was claiming some successes against Russian forces attacking the Chechen capital Grozny.

Yanderbiev, speaking from a bunker underneath the palace, said Chechen soldiers have succeeded in driving back the Russians in some areas.

He paints a grim picture of the overall situation, but says captured Russians are being treated well.

SOUNDBITE:
(Translation from Russian)
"During the night the fighting continued on all fronts, our forces experienced fierce opposition from Russian forces and in several places forced them back. At night, massed bombing continued over Grozny, there were many victims among the civilian population, whole families were wiped out in their homes."

(Cutaway)

"Not a single prisoner of war has been shot, we are continuing to uphold our responsibilities regarding international conventions"
SUPER CAPTION: Zelenkhan Yanderbiev, Vice President of Chechnya

The overnight bombing destroyed several more buildings, including the city's main toy shop and the capital is now without water or electricity.

With civilian casualties mounting, international and Russian criticism of the assault is growing.
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