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Chechens new secret weapons against Russians

MOSCOW: Fighters in Chechnya have a new secret weapon against Russian forces ÑÊtoxic wine and canned fruit, ITAR-TASS quoted Russian General Gennady Troshev as saying in Stary Atagi, south of Grozny.

"We have reports that large quantities of toxic wine and canned fruit have been delivered to Chechnya," General Troshev, deputy commander of Russian forces in the north Caucasus, was quoted as telling journalists on Sunday.

He explained that the Chechen fighters planned to let the dangerous wine and fruit fall into the hands of Russian soldiers, notably through the civilian population, the agency said.

"But we have warned (the soldiers) about this plan and we have asked them to be particularly vigilant," the general said.

He also warned of an "ecological disaster" in the Chechen capital, Grozny, where fires were raging and the consequences of explosions last month of chlorine and ammonia were making themselves felt.

The Russian army has accused the Chechen fighters of having used chemical weapons during the fighting in Grozny. AFP