RUSSIA: BUDYONNOVSK: REBELS CLAIM TO HAVE 5 THOUSAND HOSTAGES скачать в хорошем качестве

RUSSIA: BUDYONNOVSK: REBELS CLAIM TO HAVE 5 THOUSAND HOSTAGES

(16 Jun 1995) Russian/Nat The Chechen rebel commander who led an attack on the Russian town of Budyonnovsk says he has executed five hostages. Shamil Basayev is now warning that he will kill thousands of other captives unless Moscow calls immediate peace talks to end the fighting in Chechnya. Russian troops are surrounding Basayev and his men, who are inside the town's hospital - where they claim to be holding 5-thousand people. Russian officials put the figure at no more than 1-thousand. Reporters were escorted into the hospital by medical staff to meet the man who led the bloody assault on the small town of Budyonnovsk . Holed up with heavily armed 50 men in the local hospital, rebel commander Shamil Basayev is surrounded by Russian troops. Inside the building hundreds of hostages sat on the ground in the corridors, guarded by Basayev's fighters. Although the Russian authorities claim that no more than a thousand people are being held by the rebels, there appeared to be at least twice that number. The rebels claim there are five-thousand captives. Women cried "help us!" as the reporters walked past them and screams rang out as a loud exchange of gunfire rocked the corridors of the hospital. Basayev claims that the town was not his real target. SOUNDBITE: Russian "We did not intend to seize Budyonnovsk . We had another task. We wanted to get to Moscow. The main aim of our operation is to put an immediate end to the war in Chechnya, see the withdrawal of Russian troops and a resolution to the problem through a peace process." SUPER CAPTION: Shamil Basayev, Chechen commander The rebels mean business. So far they have executed five hostages - all soldiers or police. SOUNDBITE: Russian "If our aims are not met we will force the courageous Russian army to do this (kill innocent civilian hostages). Let them come and storm the place We are sick of watching our villages being bombed, and our women and children being killed." SUPER CAPTION: Shamil Basayev, Chechen commander Looking tired and a little desperate Basayev vowed to fight to the death if his terms are not met. SOUNDBITE: Russian "Freedom, or death is our fate. Either we will be free or nothing. An honourable death is better than being slaves or allowing the annihilation of our people." SUPER CAPTION: Shamil Basayev, Chechen commander Basayev and his rebels have already made their intentions clear, but their demands will be unacceptable to Moscow. Their hostages can only wait and hope. 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...