Rebels resist Russian troops

GROZNY, DEC 28: A Russian offensive to take Grozny and cut off key supply routes faltered as federal troops ran into fierce resistance fro...

GROZNY, DEC 28: A Russian offensive to take Grozny and cut off key supply routes faltered as federal troops ran into fierce resistance from rebels entrenched in the Chechen capital and the southern mountains.

Russian artillery and jets pounded the city on Monday, the explosions coming as rapidly as drumbeats at times, but an offensive launched on Saturday to take the capital failed to break through rebel positions. Moscow-backed Chechen fighters came up against heavy ground resistance, with both sides taking losses, Interfax New Agency reported.

Grozny8217;s main boulevard was deserted except for an occasional truckload of rebel fighters speeding past, swerving to avoid large holes in the street. Defence Ministry spokesman Sergei Zhuk said the city was too well-defended for an all-out assault. Russian sappers said on NTV television on Monday that the federal troops8217; advance into Grozny was slowed because roads were heavily mined.

Having encircled Grozny and captured the surrounding northern lowlands,Russian officials said on Sunday they were concentrating their energies to the south, blockading roads the rebels use to ferry supplies from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Russian jets dropped aerosol bombs on rebel bases, caves and fortifications in southern Chechnya, Interfax reported. The bombs release large clouds of inflammable mist and cause massive explosions that can clear out bunkers. The Russians have not used the bombs in Grozny, where up to 35,000 civilians are reported to be hiding, Interfax said.

Meanwhile radio communication links between rebel forces in Grozny and their various field commanders have been cut by Russian troops who took control of the television tower overlooking the Chechen capital on Monday.

Rebels made an attempt to break the cordon around Grozny but they suffered heavy casualties and had to retreat, Voice of Russia said.

The advancing Chechen militia raised by the Kremlin have successfully demolished many rebel fortifications. To minimise the civiliancasualties federal troops are advancing 8220;inch by inch8221; but the artillery and combat planes continue to pound rebel bases, a spokesman for the Russian southern command said. Russian radio reported return of some sixty thousand Chechens to their homes from adjoining states where they had sought refuge after the break of hostilities between the centre and republic.

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Chechen operations are progressing as per 8220;Army plan8221;, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday evening after meeting President Boris Yeltsin.Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov who also met the president was asked to reactivate dialogue and communication with the West.

The President also asked the Foreign Minister to let the West know that question of western mediation in Chechnya does not arise and explain to them that Moscow stands for global stability and dialogue on vexed issues.