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Voice of America, 99-08-15Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>CONTENTS
[01] RUSSIA / DAGESTAN (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=8/14/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252794 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Russian helicopter gunships are stepping up attacks on Islamic rebels as fighting enters its second week in the mountains of the southern republic of Dagestan. V-O-A's Peter Heinlein in Moscow reports four Russian servicemen have been killed in the latest clashes. TEXT: The state-run Itar-Tass news service reports
Russian jets and helicopter gunships maintained a
steady stream of air strikes on rebel positions
overnight on both sides of the border between Dagestan
and breakaway Chechnya.
The report quotes an Interior Ministry spokesman as
saying government troops and Dagestani volunteers
captured three vantage points from the insurgents
during a seven-hour battle.
Russia's prime minister-designate, Vladimir Putin,
pledged Friday to carry the fight into Chechnya, which
Russia claims is the staging and training ground for
the Dagestani insurgents. During a trip to Siberia,
Mr. Putin told reporters "Chechnya is Russian
territory, and we will strike at militants wherever
they are located."
Chechnya, which won de-facto independence in a war of
secession against Russia in the mid-[19]90's, has
officially maintained neutrality in the latest
fighting. But a renegade Chechen warlord has accepted
leadership of the Dagestan uprising, and Chechen
fighters are believed to be assisting the Dagestani
insurgents.
The heaviest fighting is taking place in a remote,
mountainous region within a few kilometers of the
Dagestan-Chechen border, where border controls are
virtually impossible.
Russian newspapers suggested Saturday that the
government is preparing for a protracted campaign in
the northern Caucasus. The Novye Izvestia newspaper
reported the arrival of elite troops and engineering
brigades in the combat zone -- an indication they are
expecting to stay for a while.
The latest casualties bring the number of Russian
troops killed in the week-long war to at least 16.
There is no clear information on rebel casualties.
Russian sources say at least 200 of the Muslim
insurgents have died in past week, but rebel spokesmen
say they have lost only about five fighters.
There is no independent confirmation of the casualty
figures. In the past, however, both sides have tended
to exaggerate their estimates of enemy casualties,
while minimizing their own. (Signed).
[02] RUSSIA- DAGESTAN (L-UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)DATE=8/15/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252819 INTERNET=YES CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Russia's breakaway Chechnya region has declared a state of emergency beginning Monday, and placed all military units on full alert. VOA Correspondent Peter Heinlein reports the move comes as Russian forces are intensifying effort to dislodge muslim rebels entrenched along Chechnya border with Dagestan. TEXT: Russian officials say warplanes and helicopter
gunships raided rebel targets Sunday in the sparsely
populated northern Caucasus mountain region of
Dagestan. Several of the strikes were said to have hit
across the border in neighboring Chechnya.
As the fighting raged, Chechen president Aslan
Maskhadov declared a 30 day state of emergency,
imposing a dusk-to-dawn curfew, placing troops on full
alert, and imposing a ban on all media except the
state-owned television station.
Russian Prime minister designate Vladimir Putin has
made clear Chechnya would be fair game for Russian
strikes.
He told reporters last week "Chechnya is Russian
territory, and we will strike the rebels wherever they
are." Russia says muslim insurgents are using
Chechnya, as a staging area crossing back and forth at
will in the rugged mountains region.
The Chechen government has already complained of air
strikes inside Chechnya, which it says have caused
civilian casualties.
Russian troops withdrew from Chechnya in 1996 after
suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of local
insurgents. Although Moscow maintains the region is
still part of Russia, President Maskhadov's government
enjoys virtual independence and has declared itself
neutral in the lastest fighting. That neutrality has
been compromised, however by the presence of renegade
Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev as commander of the
Dagestani rebel forces.
Saturday, Russia warned Islamic countries not to
assist the rebels in Dagestan. Acting Foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov was quoted as saying Moscow has proof the
insurgents are receiving foreign help.
Russian news agencies Sunday reported ground clashes
in several regions of Dagestan under rebel control.
The state-run ITAR-Tass news service said Muslim
fighters infliltrating from Chechnya attacked two
border villages,but were driven back. Official sources
reported heavy rebel casualties, and said three
defenders had been killed.
Russia's interior ministry has estimated more than
200 Islamic fighters were killed in the first week of
fighting out of a total force of about one-thousand.
Earlier, a rebel spokesman said his side's casualties
were far lower than what Russia claimed.
Casualty figures, as well as details of the fighting,
could not be independently confirmed. Western
journalists are being discouraged from travelling to
Dagestan, and most information about the war is being
controlled by the Russian and Dagestani governments.
(signed)
Neb/pfh/PT
15-Aug-1999 18:03 PM LOC (15-Aug-1999 2203 UTC)
[03] ULSTER / MARCHES (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=8/14/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252796 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Police clashed with Catholic demonstrators in Belfast Saturday morning, but managed to clear the way for a march by Protestant Apprentice Boys later in the day. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports from London, the march went ahead peacefully but there were injuries reported earlier. TEXT: A couple of hundred Catholic demonstrators
tried to block the Protestant march by sitting in the
road. Police in riot gear finally broke up the
demonstration but say that 19 policemen were injured
in the clashes.
The Protestant march did go ahead later in the day
without any further trouble. But police are on high
alert for problems in Londonderry, where 10-thousand
Protestants are marching later in the day. It was in
Londonderry 30 years ago that Britain had to deploy
troops to break up bloody riots.
The clashes before this march contrast sharply with
the peaceful start of the Protestant marching season
just a couple of months ago. (Signed)
[04] IRELAND/VIOLENCE (S-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)DATE=8/15/1999TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-252811 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: Memorial services are being held in Omagh, Northern Ireland, to pay tribute to victims of a car bombing there one-year ago. It was the deadliest single attack in 30-years of Northern Ireland's sectarian violence. Correspondent Laurie Kassman reports the peaceful service contrasts sharply with violence that has marred a protestant march through Belfast. TEXT: The service in Omagh marks the year anniversary
of a car bombing in the town's market street that
killed 29 and injured more than 300. A dissident
republican group claimed responsibility.
The tragedy rekindled the Good-Friday peace process.
But the process remains paralyzed by disputes over
disarming republican para-militaries.
In contrast to Omagh's quiet ceremony, Londonderry is
cleaning up after a night of street violence. Rioters
set fire to cars, smashed and looted shops after
Protestant "Apprentice Boys" marched to commemorate
17th century military victories over Catholics.
Earlier Saturday, catholic demonstrators tossed fire-
bombs, stones and bottles at the police.
At least 19 police officers were injured. Several
protesters were arrested. (SIGNED)
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