Moscow Backs Off Threat to Chechnya
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GROZNY, Russia — Moscow backed off from a threat to send troops Thursday into the break-away republic of Chechnya, where leaders defied the Kremlin’s ultimatum and called on armed volunteers to defend their capital.
Air attacks continued on the outskirts of Grozny, claiming at least four lives, hospital officials said. A Russian delegation arrived from Moscow and began talks with Chechen officials.
The capital, which is in the Caucasus Mountains of southern Russia, became a war zone between forces loyal to Chechen President Dzhokhar Dudayev, who declared independence from Moscow in 1991, and Chechen rebels trying to topple him.
Both sides ignored Moscow’s threat to impose a state of emergency in Chechnya if they did not stop fighting by Thursday morning.
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