INGUSHETIA/CHECHNYA: RUSSIAN MILITARY CLOSE BORDER

(4 Feb 2000) Russian/Nat

The Russian military authorities temporarily closed the cross border traffic at the Adler -20 checkpoint between Chechnya and Ingushetia on Friday.

The border serves as the main gateway for refugees coming in and out of Chechnya and to neighbouring Ingushetia.

The Russians claim the move has been necessary in order to prevent Chechen guerrillas entering the adjacent region.

They've also increased the number of checkpoints and quantity of federal servicemen manning those areas.

A Russian OMON special police officer who spoke to APTN claimed that Russian troops were fired upon by suspected rebel forces, during a routine cleanup operation in the nearby Chechen town of Achkhoy-Martan.

However, there have been no further details on the incident, including whether anyone was injured.

On Friday, crowds of refugees assembled at the checkpoint seeking permission to cross into Chechnya.

Traffic later resumed, but only the lorries carrying the Russian troops and the UNCHCR aid convoy were allowed to cross into the region.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
" We had orders not to let anyone through from the Commandant of Achkoi Martan district because of the difficult situation there. I don t know the details. You can hear things going on all the time."
SUPER CAPTION: OMON soldier, vox pop

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
" It was a fairly quiet night but you could hear the bombing."
SUPER CAPTION: Refugee, vox pop

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
" There's nothing going on there, no fighting. I crossed the border to bring a sick girl out for treatment and now they won't let be back. I don't understand why?"
SUPER CAPTION: Said, Refugee

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
" I had to get to hospital urgently. You can see what is happening here. Our children are dying, dying from flu. I just left the hospital and saw a baby die."
SUPER CAPTION:Women Refugee

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