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Fierce fighting continuos in Grozny

MOSCOW: Russian warplanes pounded militant targets in Grozny on Sunday as Moscow's troops battled against heavy sniper fire from Chechen fighters to try to reach the heart of the breakaway region's ruined capital.

Interfax news agency quoted the military headquarters on the eastern edge of the capital as saying Russian troops were locked in fierce fighting as they struggled to move closer to the strategic Minutka square in the centre of Grozny.

Minutka, a roundabout offering access to central districts, was the scene of fierce battles in the 1994-96 Chechen war, which ended with a humiliating Russian retreat from the region.

Russian media said Chechen snipers in tall buildings around the square were slowing the troops, which have been fighting for Minutka for 11 days. Russia said it had blocked the square along its southern edge.

Interfax reported that Russian warplanes had flown more than 210 sorties against rebel targets, among the highest daily totals since the fighting began in September.

The agency said the bombs, aimed at Chechen positions in Grozny and surrounding areas, destroyed a militant headquarters.

Itar-Tass news agency quoted officials in Mozdok, Russia's main regional army base just outside Chechnya, as saying 75 fighters had downed weapons and surrendered to Russian commanders over the last 24 hours.

Russia's new spokesman on Chechnya said a breakthrough was close in Grozny on Saturday after 54 militants surrendered there and in the nearby village of Staraya Sunzha to local prosecutors and to militia commanded by the pro-Moscow Chechen leader Bislan Gantamirov. A militant spokesman dismissed that claim.

Russia's slow-moving offensive was expected to draw more criticism from Western leaders, with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright due to arrive in Moscow for Middle East talks starting on Monday.

"I don't want to be overly optimistic, but if we get similar results tomorrow and in the coming days, then we can say today was a psychological breakthrough," Sergei Yastrzhembsky, a former Kremlin spin doctor, said in televised comments.

"The Chechen capital is under the control of the fighters," Udugov said, adding that the Russian troops were suffering significant losses and had made little headway in Grozny.

Udugov said on Saturday 400 Russian troops and 13 Chechens had been killed over the previous two days.

Russia's military has acknowledged more than 1,000 of its troops killed so far. Losses have mounted quickly since New Year when troops stepped up their bid to seize Grozny, where the militants have made use of a vast network of alleys and Soviet-era bunkers to hold them off.

The military campaign, particularly early successes in capturing the Chechen lowlands, has been the chief reason for high poll ratings for acting Russian President Vladimir Putin, hot favourite to win March 26 presidential elections.-Reuters