Russia Keeps Up Raids, Strengthens Position in Chechnya
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GROZNY, Russia — Moscow consolidated its forces around this Chechen capital Saturday as rebel fighters braced for a Russian attack.
A Chechen spokesman said that the city of Argun, east of Grozny, came under Russian artillery fire Saturday morning and that bombs were heard overnight in the north.
Russian warplanes flew 10 sorties against suspected rebel sites in Chechnya in the 24-hour period since Friday, Russia’s media center in the neighboring republic of Dagestan told the Interfax news agency.
The Chechen military command said two of the planes were shot down, one north of Grozny and the second southwest of the capital, Interfax reported. Russian officials denied the report, saying that all planes had returned to their bases Saturday, according to Interfax.
U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, on a visit to Kenya, said the Russian attacks were “deplorable and ominous.” She said that the events in Chechnya are of “grave concern” and that she planned to register her objections to Russian Foreign Minister Igor S. Ivanov.
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