DATE=12/28/94

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-171456

TITLE=RUSSIA/CHECHNYA (S)

BYLINE=ELIZABETH ARROTT

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: RUSSIAN WARPLANES HAVE REPORTEDLY ATTACKED THE BREAKAWAY

CHECHEN REPUBLIC, ONE DAY AFTER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN

PROMISED TO HALT AIR RAIDS ON CIVILIAN AREAS. V-O-A'S ELIZABETH

ARROTT IN MOSCOW HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: A RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE RENEWED BOMBINGS OCCURRED

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CHECHEN CAPITAL, AS WELL AS THE TOWN OF

URUS-MARTAN, SOUTHWEST OF GROZNY.

ITAR-TASS SAYS THERE WERE CASUALTIES IN URUS-MARTAN, BUT GAVE NO

FURTHER DETAILS. THE TOWN HAD BEEN A PLACE OF REFUGE FOR

CIVILIANS FLEEING BOMBING OF THE CAPITAL.

THE REPORTED ATTACKS COME LESS THAN A DAY AFTER PRESIDENT YELTSIN

PROMISED TO STOP AIR RAIDS ON GROZNY THAT COULD LEAD TO CIVILIAN

CASUALTIES. IMAGES OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN FALLING VICTIM TO

EARLIER BOMBING PROMPTED CONCERN FROM THE INTERNATIONAL

COMMUNITY.

BUT MR. YELTSIN -- IN ADDITION TO HIS PLEDGE TO STOP THE RAIDS --

ALSO VOWED TO PRESS ON AND RECLAIM CHECHNYA, WHICH UNILATERALLY

DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE THREE YEARS AGO.

THE RUSSIAN INVASION BEGAN EARLIER THIS MONTH BUT BECAME QUICKLY

BOGGED DOWN BY FIERCE RESISTANCE FROM CHECHEN FIGHTERS AND THE

REFUSAL OF SOME RUSSIAN OFFICERS TO FIGHT UNARMED CIVILIANS.

ITAR-TASS SAYS HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES IN THE VILLAGE OF ARGUN

TO THE EAST OF GROZNY. THE INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY QUOTES THE

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT"S PRESS OFFICE AS SAYING RUSSIAN FORCES HAVE

BEGUN WHAT IT CALLED REAL ACTIONS TO ADVANCE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF

THE CAPITAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/EA/MH/BG

28-Dec-94 8:48 AM EST (1348 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America