Russian rockets pound Chechen capital

8220;We want to do away with terrorism, to get rid once and for all of the centre of terrorism, international terrorism in Chechnya,8221; Yeltsin said at an award ceremony for academics, sportsmen and soldiers onWednesday.

8220;Russian soldiers and officers will return peace and calm to the long-suffering Chechen territory,8221; he added.

Russian troops were reported to have moved closer on the west, northwest and eastern sides of Grozny, seeking to destroy the Islamic guerrillas whom Moscow blames for staging a series of devastating bomb attacks on apartment blocks.

Russian forces used multiple rocket launchers and heavy guns overnight against guerrillas in the Bamut stronghold.

Interfax news agency quoted the Russian military command as saying its troops had reached the outskirts of Gudermes. It said Russian troops had seized the villages of Azamat-Yurt, Stepnoye, Nizhny Gerzel and Kadi-Yurt in the Gudermes district and had encircled the rebel-held villages of Engel-Yurt and Komsomolskoye.

Meanwhile, the council of Europe8217;s human rights committee has requested an emergency debate on Russia8217;s military intervention in Chechnya, joining a chorus of international criticism.

The committee urged the parliamentaryassembly to take 8220;the necessary steps8221; if Russia 8220;continued to flout international humanitarian rights and its obligations towards the council of Europe8221;. It did not elaborate.

Russian generals deny hitting civilian targets, insisting that they are making every effort to negotiate their advance in Chechnya with local authorities rather than fight their way through.

Interfax quoted Russian military sources as saying Chechen Field Commander Sulim Yamadayev, who controls areas surrounding Gudermes, had signalled he was ready to cooperate with Russia.

But the sources also said Gudermes was under the control of radical field commanders Salman Raduyev and Arbi Barayev, making clear there was little chance of taking the town peacefully.

Maskhadov rules out talks with Moscow

quot;It is useless to hold talkswith Prime Minister Vladimir Putin because he is only looking for revenge,quot; Maskhadov told a press conference in the separatist republic8217;s capital Grozny. quot;Putin is looking to score a victory because he wants to preserve the image of a tough leader before his own people. He is working only on his image,quot; he said.

Maskhadov8217;s comments came as Russian forces massed troops around the outskirts of Grozny and prepared to seal off the capital from all outside contact. The Chechen President reported heavy fighting on the northern and western outskirts of Grozny but denied Moscow media reports that Russia had managed to slip the first reconnaissance soldiers into the capital8217;s suburbs.

quot;They are not inside Grozny,quot; Maskhadov said. He further called on leaders of neighbouring southern Russian republics to rally to Chechnya8217;s defence. quot;The only way to end to end this war is that if the leaders of the North Caucasus say hands off Chechnya8217;,quot; Maskhadov said, adding, quot;It is too late for the people of the NorthCaucasus to die simply for the image of their own leaders.quot;

8211;AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE