Voice of America, 99-08-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] RUSSIA / DAGESTAN (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[02] RUSSIA- DAGESTAN (L-UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

[03] ULSTER / MARCHES (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[04] IRELAND/VIOLENCE (S-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[01] RUSSIA / DAGESTAN (L) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

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).
NEB/PFH/ALW 14-Aug-1999 08:12 AM EDT (14-Aug-1999 1212 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] RUSSIA- DAGESTAN (L-UPDATE) BY PETER HEINLEIN (MOSCOW)

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)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] ULSTER / MARCHES (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

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)
NEB/LMK/ALW/WTW 14-Aug-1999 08:20 AM EDT (14-Aug-1999 1220 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] IRELAND/VIOLENCE (S-ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

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)
NEB/LMK/ALW/RAE 15-Aug-1999 09:18 AM EDT (15-Aug-1999 1318 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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