Voice of America, 99-09-12

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO / MINES / L-O BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

[02] KOSOVO-MITROVICA (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (MITROVICA)

[03] RUSSIA-DAGESTAN (S&L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[04] RUSSIA/CAUCASUS (S&L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

[01] KOSOVO / MINES / L-O BY TIM BELAY (PRISTINA)

INTRO: Over the past three months, a total of 232 people have been killed or seriously injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance in Kosovo. Tim Belay is in Pristina with this report on international efforts to de-mine the Serbian province in Yugoslavia.

TEXT: Mine-clearing teams are racing against the first snowfalls of winter, working frantically before the snow covers the ground. Their goal is to clear mines from all the major population centers by the end of next year. Much of the clearing program is undertaken by Kosovars, according to the local Mine Action Coordination Center. Project manager John Flanagan says a top priority is the clearing of unexploded cluster munitions -- groups of small bombs -- which were dropped by NATO planes.

[02] KOSOVO-MITROVICA (L-O) BY TIM BELAY (MITROVICA)

INTRO: The United Nations is trying to re-integrate the northern Kosovo city of Mitrovica where the Serbian and Albanian communities refuse to live together. Tim Belay is in Mitrovica and reports the latest attempt to integrate the population resulted in three-days of violent demonstrations.

TEXT: a bridge ethnically divides Mitrovica, with Serbs living on the northern side of Mitrovica, and Albanians on the south. Before this year's conflict, some Serbs and Albanians lived on both sides of the city, but since the end of NATO bombing, the two groups have separated and have clashed almost daily on the bridge. One young Albanian woman says she is waiting for her chance to return to her family's apartment on the northern side of the city.

[03] RUSSIA-DAGESTAN (S&L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: A Russian helicopter gunship was downed in Dagestan during continued fighting between Russian forces and Islamic insurgents in the southern Russian region. Moscow correspondent Eve Conant reports the president of neighboring Chechnya has declared a state of emergency following what he says is the Russian bombardment of Chechen villages.

TEXT: The Russian military has only confirmed that a helicopter gunship crashed in Dagestan Saturday. But witnesses say the helicopter was shot down by rebel fighters. At least one crewmember was rescued but the fate of two others who were able to parachute to the ground remains unknown. Hundreds of militants aiming to establish an Islamic state have invaded Dagestan from neighboring Chechnya. Russian troops have stepped up their campaign to rout them from several villages under their control. Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov says Russian aircraft bombed villages inside Chechnya, killing civilians. He has declared a state of emergency in Chechnya and has ordered a total mobilization of the adult population. He also appealed to Chechens fighting in Dagestan to return home, or risk, as he put it, "bringing misfortune to the entire Chechen republic."

[04] RUSSIA/CAUCASUS (S&L) BY EVE CONANT (MOSCOW)

INTRO: Russian military officials say they expect to establish control over two villages, Chabanmakhi and Karamakhi, held by Islamic militants in Dagestan. Moscow correspondent Eve Conant reports a rebel leader says militants have withdrawn from positions in the western Novolakskoye area, but Russia claims fighting still continues in the region.

TEXT: Chechen fighter Shamil Basaev, who has led insurgents in Dagestan, told reporters his fighters have completely withdrawn from the Novolakskoye region. He also denied any link between his fighters and two recent explosions in Russia -- one in an apartment block in Dagestan that killed more than 60 people, and another in a Moscow apartment building in which more than 90 died. But the Chechen leader says his forces will continue to fight the Russian army and that his men have simply retreated to previously determined positions. He vowed to continue the fight until, as he put it -- our people are freed from Russian occupation. Russian military officials say despite the rebel leader's statements, heavy fighting continued (Sunday) in the Novolakskoye area.

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