Russian forces advance into Chechnya, create buffer zone

Itar-Tass quoting a Dagestani interior ministry spokesman reported that troops had attempted to gain control of the village Friday night, but retreated to their positions after meeting with resistance. Troops entered the village Saturday morning without meeting with any resistance after artillery positions pounded rebel positions overnight.

Meanwhile, Russianmilitary brass who had so far refused to comment on the start of a ground operation against the Islamic rebels, after a two-week long air war failed to break their back, on Saturday confirmed reports of sporadic clashes8217; between advancing troops and Chechen guerrillas.

Talking to reporters on Friday, Russian defence minister Marshal Sergeyev said the security zone would be set up at 8220;slow tempo8221;. 8220;Whether the Chechen capital Grozny will be included in the buffer zone will depend on further developments,8221; he said.

8220;In some areas of Chechnya, local clashes with separate groups of gunmen are taking place,8221; Deputy Chief of Russian General Staff, General Valery Manilov told reporters, in the first official statement about the ground operations. In his televised remarks, Manilov, however, denied that a massive ground operation was underway in Chechnya.

He said Russian troops were in Chechnya to set up a 8220;security zone8221; there, and artillery and air strikes would continue on guerrilla strongholds onway of advancing troops. 8220;We are deploying a military grouping to ensure the formation of the security zone,8221; Manilov said. He said troops are taking positions on dominant heights and key strategic points. 8220;The main thing for us is to save lives of our servicemen, although losses are inevitable,8221; Manilov said.

According to General Manilov, the buffer zone between Chechnya and rest of Russia would be split into three zones. The inner ring will be manned by police and interior ministry troops, while the two outer rings will be manned by the army in case the militants break through the first cordon. Meanwhile, Chechnya8217;s deputy premier Ahmad Zakayev, declared in Grozny on Saturday that Chechnya has some 50,000 well-trained forces who will fight on Russian soil against its armed forces, Itar-Tass reported.

Fight not against Islam: Primakov

MOSCOW: Russia8217;s enemy in Chechnya, where it has launched an assault, is not Islam but extremism, ex-premier Yevgeny Primakov said on Friday.

quot;Theseextremists who attack women and children don8217;t understand Islamic Wahhabism but still call themselves Wahhabis,quot; said Primakov, a strong candidate to succeed President Boris Yeltsin in elections next year. quot;Our enemy is not Islam as such, but international extremism,quot; he said on Ekho Moskvy radio.