Russia prepares for terrorist raids as fighting spreads

Two weeks of fighting that has killed at least 40 Russian soldiers and an estimated 500 Islamic had previously concentrated in the southern mountainous Botlikh and Tsumadin regions.

But officials in the Chechen capital Grozny said they had begun to bolster their security presence and dig trenches along the northern border with Dagestan because of quot;endless shellingquot; from Russian soldiers.

Russian jets and helicopters delivered 37 rocket strikes against the rebel strongholds over a 24-hour span 8211; the heaviest air assault since fighting began on August 7.

Russian Generals said they had destroyed three trucks carrying rebel gunmen and found two secret munitions depots in Botlikh.

Officials said Russian troops and heavy equipment were being amassed in the zone of conflict to prepare for a major ground offensive, although a date has not been set yet.

Russia has so far refused to send its troops into towns controlled by gunmen believed to belong to the Islamic fundamental Wahhabite sect.