DATE=12/28/94

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-171479

TITLE= RUSSIA/CHECHNYA (S 2ND UPDATE)

BYLINE= ELIZABETH ARROTT

DATELINE= MOSCOW CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

(EDITORS: NEW MATERIAL THROUGHOUT)

INTRO: RUSSIAN WARPLANES HAVE 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 REPORTS ON THE INTENSIFIED FIGHTING.

TEXT: WESTERN REPORTERS IN GROZNY SAY THE CITY ITSELF CAME UNDER

AIR ATTACK AGAIN WEDNESDAY, THOUGH THE KREMLIN SAYS IT BOMBED

ONLY THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE CAPITAL.

TELEVISION CAPTURED IMAGES OF AN ORPHANAGE IN CENTRAL GROZNY,

BADLY DAMAGED BY A BOMB. THE CHILDREN HAD HIDDEN IN THE BASEMENT

AND WERE NOT HARMED.

BUT CHECHEN OFFICIALS SAY SCORES OF PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN OTHER

ATTACKS ACROSS CHECHNYA, INCLUDING AIR RAIDS ON THE VILLAGES OF

ARGUN, TO THE EAST OF GROZNY AND URUS-MARTAN, TO THE SOUTHWEST.

THE BOMBINGS CAME LESS THAN A DAY AFTER PRESIDENT YELTSIN PLEDGED

TO STOP ATTACKS ON GROZNY THAT COULD LEAD TO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.

HEAVY GROUND FIGHTING WAS REPORTED ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE

CAPITAL. A MEMBER OF THE RUSSIAN SECURITY COUNCIL OUTLINED PLANS

TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE BREAKAWAY REGION IN STAGES AND INSTALL A

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

BUT WITH CHECHEN FORCES PUTTING UP FIERCE RESISTANCE AND THE

RUSSIAN MILITARY FAR BEHIND ITS ORIGINAL SCHEDULE, THE TOP

OFFICIALS PLANS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE FULFILLED ANY TIME SOON.

(SIGNED)

NEB/EA/MH/JCF

28-Dec-94 2:10 PM EST (1910 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America