RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: RENEWED FIGHTING AROUND TOWN OF GUDERMES скачать в хорошем качестве

RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: RENEWED FIGHTING AROUND TOWN OF GUDERMES

(19 Dec 1995) Russian/Nat There's been renewed fighting in the breakaway republic of Chechnya as separatists refuse to acknowledge the results of Russian-imposed elections. The Kremlin-backed candidate, Doku Zavgayev, won an overwhelming majority in Sunday's ballot. Tension is mounting in and around the capital Grozny. After some of the fiercest fighting in months, Chechen rebels surrounded Russian positions in the town of Gudermes. Russian troops have blocked the roads leading into Gudermes to allow residents to leave before mounting an assault on Chechen positions. The road leading into Gudermes is now strictly controlled as the noose tightens around Russian troops here. The Russians have also stepped up security checkpoints around other major towns such as Urus-Martan. They are now surrounded by several hundred well-armed Chechen rebels, following some of the fiercest fighting in months. Morale among the Russian troops is low. Some 40,000 of them went into Chechnya last December to crush the republic's independence bid. A year on they are still there under relentless attack from the rebels. SOUNDBITE:(Russian) Translation: It's a double life here. During the day it's quiet and things are okay but at night the shooting starts SUPER CAPTION: Russian soldier Local residents, fearing a Russian counter-attack, are fleeing the town in droves. Rebels first attacked Gudermes, 30 kilometers (20 miles) east of the capital, four days ago - in an attempt to thwart Russian-imposed elections. The Kremlin-backed candidate, Doku Zavgayev, won an overwhelming majority in Sunday's ballot. In the hills of Vedeno, a lone Russian soldier waits to go home. Denis Kamenkov deserted his unit five days ago. He's only been in Chechnya a few weeks but already more than 50 soldiers from his unit have deserted or gone missing. It's a war they want no part in. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Translation: Before I came here I had decided that there was no point in fighting this war SUPER CAPTION: Denis Kamenkov The Russian-imposed elections have served to fuel the bitter conflict in Chechnya. Chechens had demanded that Russian troops withdraw before any elections were held. And with separatists refusing to acknowledge the result of Sunday's ballot, both sides are poised for a renewed offensive on Gudermes and the capital Grozny. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...