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Russia bombs Chechen strongholds, militants hit back

MOSCOW: Russian planes bombed guerrilla strongholds in Chechnya's mountainous south on Sunday in preparation for a decisive onslaught on the last rebel-held areas, Interfax news agency said. The militants, who have announced plans to switch from frontal resistance to their former strategy of hit-and-run attacks, struck a key Russian military base in Chechnya outside the regional capital Grozny.

Interfax quoted the Russian regional command as saying that bombers and fighter-bombers had made more than 100 sorties in the past 24 hours, about average for the last few days, in the area of the Vedeno and Argun River gorges.

It said 18 militant strongholds, two communication points and several smaller positions had been destroyed.

The Russian military say their troops have sealed off the two gorges, where up to 8,000 militants are believed to be holed up, and have already seized the heights commanding the gorges. But they have not yet moved troops into the area to seize control of it.

Russia is trying to defeat large groups of militants in the mountains before the snow melts in the spring, making it easier for the militants to manoeuvre. But the military admits it could take it some time to overcome the smaller militant groups.

The militant leaders claim there is unlimited potential for guerrilla warfare throughout the region, even if government troops force them to leave their mountain strongholds.

Russian media have said the number of militant attacks in the Russian-controlled zone of Chechnya is rising.

NTV television said on Sunday that Chechen snipers had been firing at night at the Khankala base outside Grozny, which houses the Russian military command, and that a small militant group had attacked the base. An NTV reporter in Khankala said a tank unit guarding the base had thwarted an attempt by a group of six militants to break into the base. He said the troops suffered no casualties.

Russian news agencies quoted the military as saying on Saturday they expected a series of stronger militant attacks involving up to 500 guerrillas at a time.

The military insist that despite the growing number of hit-and-run attacks, the militants do not have enough popular support to wage a full-scale guerrilla war.

They also say that special operations are being carried out in Russian-held areas to clear out rebel fighters disguised as civilians.

RIA news agency quoted the Interior Ministry press office in the region as saying that on Saturday alone 13,000 Chechens had been checked for possible links with the guerrillas.-Reuters