RUSSIA: RADUYEV HEADS ANTI-MASKHADOV PROTESTS скачать в хорошем качестве

RUSSIA: RADUYEV HEADS ANTI-MASKHADOV PROTESTS

(14 Oct 1999) Chechen/Nat A few thousand anti-Maskhadov protesters, led by Chechen warlord Salman Raduyev, rallied on Thursday at a in Grozny, Chechnya, while Russian forces stepped up air and artillery attacks against militants in the breakaway republic. Raduyev said the president's policies had led to the latest conflict, but added that Chechens must unite to fight the Russian threat. Nearby, a crowd of 12-thousand supporters of Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov came to a rally to protest the Russian military campaign. In Grozny, the Chechen capital, explosions could be heard in distance, but there were no bombs or artillery raids on Thursday. But sounds of angry Chechens echoed on Grozny streets instead. Thousands of supporters of one of Russia's most wanted man packed central Grozny on Thursday in an anti-war demonstration. Salman Raduyev, a notorious Chechen field commander and veteran of the 1994-'96 war with Russia, addressed the meeting in the Chechen capital, telling supporters the republic would never yield to the Russian army's advance. Raduyev, a strong political opponent to Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, criticised the official Chechen policy towards Russia. SOUNDBITE (Chechen): "We should never have concluded peace with Russia (in 1996), or conducted presidential elections (which brought Maskhadov to power) until Russia had recognised Chechen independence." SUPERCAPTION: Salman Raduyev, Chechen warlord Raduyev, virtually crippled in several attempts on his life, came to prominence in the first war when his fighters seized the town of Kizlyar in neighbouring Dagestan from under the noses of Russian troops. The Chechens, along with Raduyev, evaded capture and escaped. Meanwhile, another demonstration in Grozny was organised in support of beleaguered Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov. Russia claims Maskhadov no longer has any control over the powerful warlords Shamil Basayev and Arab-born Khattab, whose fighters attempted to invade Dagestan in August and September. SOUNDBITE (Russian): "While there is one Chechen still alive he will never get down on his knees. The Russian pig should get down on his knees and leave for the next world." SUPERCAPTION: Bilal Khasayev, major On Thursday the Russian air force launched 12 airstrikes in the last 24 hours against militant bases, including one in the central town of Urus Martan. Artillery strikes targeted militants along the southern bank of the Terek river and several villages just south of it, as well as in Chechnya's west. The Russians moved into Chechnya to establish a security zone to prevent Chechen militants from invading other regions in southern Russia, following two incursions by Chechnya-based Islamic militants into neighboring Dagestan. The militants are also suspected in a series of bombings in Russia that killed some 300 people. In the 1994-96 Chechnya war, Russia suffered devastating losses because it engaged the Chechens in street and mountain fighting. In the end, Russian troops withdrew, giving the republic de-facto independence. 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...