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Fighting continues in south of Grozny

MOSCOW: Russian troops, seeking to wipe out resistance in Chechnya, fought militants south of the capital Grozny on Sunday and pounded other areas with aircraft and artillery, local news agencies reported.

"About 70 guerrillas who had been in the mountains infiltrated the outskirts of the village of Komsomolskoye in the Urus-Martan district today," Itar-Tass news agency quoted the Interior Ministry's press centre in Chechnya as saying.

Interfax said the militants entered the region under cover of night and were confronted by Russian OMON police commandos.

RIA agency said the militants suffered losses and were forced to retreat to the mountains after a battle lasting several hours. No independent confirmation was available.

Russian warplanes and artillery also attacked suspected militant positions in southern mountain areas. Isolated shooting incidents were reported around Grozny, where an OMON convoy was caught in a deadly ambush last week.

Russia wants to wrap up the present large-scale military offensive quickly and move towards a policing operation.

Acting President Vladimir Putin, whose popularity stems largely from his tough conduct of the war, would probably welcome swift progress in the operation ahead of a March 26 presidential election that he is expected to win.

He is already under pressure from Western leaders over what they see as disproportionate force used against rebels in civilian areas. Human rights organisations have voiced concern over alleged Russian atrocities.

Russia has vigorously denied reports of alleged atrocities committed by Russian troops, including rape, torture and executions in detention centres.

U.S. President Bill Clinton, in a letter to Putin last week, called for "thorough and transparent" investigations into the charges, the White House said. U.S. National Security adviser Sandy Berger also denounced the reported violations.

Itar-Tass news agency said a group of officials from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe planned to visit Chechnya on Monday.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Jakob Kellenberger, is also due to visit Chechnya soon.-Reuters