CHECHNYA: RUSSIA BACKS OFF FROM ASSAULT ON GROZNY (3)

(13 Dec 1999) Russian/Nat

Russia has backed off from its threat to launch an all-out assault on Grozny, and has instead opened a second corridor for civilians to flee the besieged Chechen capital.

Russian army sources claim that since last week's warning was issued to Chechens to flee Grozny or face annihilation more than 2-thousand citizens have left the Chechen capital.

However, thousands of others are still believed to be living in basements and underground shelters.

In Grozny, there were no reports of Russian war planes bombing the city on Monday, although Russian artillery has continued to target the outskirts of the city.

The Russian military says rebel fighters are building defences on the hills surrounding Grozny, planting mines in the city streets, and installing machine-guns on building roofs, preparing to rebuff a possible attack by Russian troops.

Meanwhile Chechen refugees continue to flee their homes in Grozny and the surrounding area, fearful that it won't be long before Russian troops launch an all-out assault on the capital.

However, thousands of others are still believed to be living in basements and underground shelters.

Fleeing civilians say Russian forces regularly fire on refugees trying to escape in cars, and that the Russian troops often loot homes after taking control of cities and towns.

However Russians also claim that Chechen militants are keeping civilians in Grozny as human shields.

But fleeing refugees deny this, saying those who remain are too old or infirm to move.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"There are a lot of people left. The majority of them are Russians. Most of the Chechens have already left, someone is helping them get out. The Russians are left such as the elderly and those who can't get out by themselves."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Chechen Refugee

Back in Moscow the Russian State Duma, the lawmaking house of the parliament voted to grant amnesty for Chechen militants and Russian soldiers who committed offences punishable by Russian law since fighting in the region began.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he hoped it would encourage Chechen troops to lay down their arms.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"Even the rumours of imminent amnesty have played a positive role. People who were forced by the bandits to join their units are now taking the side of the federal authorities on a large scale."
SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister

The amnesty does not apply to those who committed killings, abductions and other grave crimes, and it's not clear who will be covered.

To qualify for the amnesty, rebels have until the February 1, 2000 to stop fighting.

Meanwhile new units are being brought in from Russia to help to tighten the noose around the Chechen capital.

This time the Russian command is keen to avoid the mistakes of the previous war in Chechnya in 1994-96 that resulted in the death of thousands of Russian soldiers.

The Russian generals are relying more heavily on the use of artillery and aircraft rather than on ground troops.

This strategy seems to go down well with rank-and-file Russian servicemen including these OMON special police units.

As Russian forces continue to move through Chechnya the Kremlin shows no sign of further bowing to Western demands to moderate its campaign.

Russian forces are now headed towards the mountains, where thousands of rebels are now believed to be located.
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