Russian troops in pursuit of Chechen rebels

Russian troops in pursuit of Chechen rebels
DEUTSCE PRESS AGENTEUR

MOSCOW, MARCH 19: Russian forces were in pursuit of scattered groups of Chechen rebels on Sunday in the mountains of southern Chechnya, but there were no major battles, the Interfax news agency reported.

The Russian command believed many of the rebel units were trying to sneak eastwards through the mountains towards neighbouring Daghestan, also a constituent republic of Russia.

Military officials said rebels forces were regrouping in the region around the mountain stronghold of Vedeno. Interfax quoted Russian commanders as saying the regrouped rebel unit comprised 1,500 men and was under the command of wanted field commanders Shamil Bassayev, Jordanian national Chattab and President Alsna Maskhadov.

Russian interim President Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced the pullout of an "excess" number of troops from the war-torn Caucasus republic of Chechnya.

The "excess troops'' would withdraw mainly from the north of Chechnya as part of the imminent conclusion of the Russian military operation in the breakaway republic, Putin said in an interview with Majak

radio in Moscow without giving specific figures.

Russia is estimated to have 100,000 troops in Chechnya. "The rebel forces have been smashed,'' Putin said. "There is no organised resistance left.''

Putin gave no date for the planned partial pullout. His remarks came after Russian military officials said earlier that following the military operation in Chechnya only 25,000 troops would remain there permanently.

"We shall keep only enough soldiers as are necessary to fulfil the remaining tasks,'' Putin said. He categorically ruled out a complete troop withdrawal. Referring to Russia's troop withdrawal from the republic after the 1996 war which it effectively lost, Putin said: "That was a big mistake. If we pull out the rebels will consolidate their forces again.''

Putin said the remaining troops would have the task to seal off the mountains in southern Chechnya.

Russian units have been battling pockets of rebel resistance in the remote mountains for weeks. The announcement came after some 500 rebels abandoned a base near the village of Sharo-Argun overnight, fleeing under cover of darkness to nearby mountains and hills, iInterfax reported on Saturday.

The rebels had come under heavy attack from Russian warplanes and artillery since discovery of the important supply base on Thursday in a valley near the Argun gorge. Russian troops moved into the base on Saturday morning, Interfax said.