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Russian troops and tanks in big ``special operation'' in Chechnya with rows of dead rebels laid out
Reuters via Yahoo! News ^ | Sunday December 30 8:29 PM ET | Reuters

Posted on 12/30/2001 9:26:23 PM PST by Pericles

Sunday December 30 8:29 PM ET

Russian Troops, Rebels Clash in Separatist Chechnya

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian troops engaged in a big operation to flush out separatist rebels in Chechnya clashed with insurgents southeast of the regional capital Grozny on Sunday, with casualties reported on both sides.

In Ingushetia, the region adjoining Chechnya and home to some 150,000 refugees, the resignation of longstanding president Ruslan Aushev took effect. Aushev had often found himself at odds with Moscow authorities over the conflict in the region.

RTR state television said clashes erupted in Kurchaloi district, 25 miles southeast of Grozny, a day ahead of New Year's celebrations -- Russia's biggest holiday.

It showed tanks taking part in a ``special operation'' and quoted Russia's top officer in Chechnya, General Vladimir Moltenskoi, as saying a member of the FSB domestic intelligence agency had been killed. Eight other servicemen were injured.

RTR said 14 rebels had been killed, bringing to 50 the total it said had died in several days of operations in areas leading into the Argun gorge, an area of high rebel activity.

Footage showed a row of what it said were rebels' bodies as well as captured fighters. Itar-Tass news agency quoted the military as saying that troops had sealed off three villages.

Interfax news agency said rebels had shot dead a man and a woman southwest of Grozny, but gave no further details.

Moscow says its forces control all of mainly Muslim Chechnya on Russia's southern flank, but rebels mount nearly daily attacks. Other prime targets are residents working with a local pro-Moscow administration set up last year.

Western countries have toned down criticism of the Russian campaign since Moscow backed the U.S.-led anti-terrorism coalition. But human rights groups accuse Russian troops of excesses, particularly during operations to flush out rebels.

The rebel Web site www.kavkaz.org reported clashes throughout the region and said it had killed eight ``traitors.''

More than 3,000 Russian servicemen have died in Moscow's second post-Soviet bid to crush separatism. It withdrew troops in 1996 after defeat in a two-year war and granted the region de facto independence, but dispatched them again three years later.

Kremlin officials and rebel representatives met briefly in November in the first contacts aimed at a political solution but so far no concrete results have been achieved.

RTR said Aushev's resignation, announced last Friday, went into effect at noon.

Aushev, a veteran of the 1979-89 Soviet Afghan campaign, said he was quitting early because authorities had refused his proposal to hold early presidential polls next year. He had frequently criticized Kremlin policy, calling for a political solution in Chechnya and for improved conditions for refugees.

Aushev became Ingushetia's leader in 1992 and had already stepped down once in 1997, but won re-election a year later after being persuaded to run.


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The rebel Web site www.kavkaz.org reported clashes throughout the region and said it had killed eight ``traitors.''

The Chechens are starting to sell each other out to the Russians.

1 posted on 12/30/2001 9:26:24 PM PST by Pericles
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To: Pericles
The west including Russia has launched a modern day crusade agianst Islamic terror. It is about damn time.
2 posted on 12/30/2001 9:31:05 PM PST by Vote 4 Nixon
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To: Vote 4 Nixon
Why didnt the Serbs get to do it?
3 posted on 12/30/2001 9:35:25 PM PST by oilfieldtrash
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: nomasmojarras
That was a ghastly video, nearly fainted in my chair when I clicked on it. Wish I would have never watched the thing!
5 posted on 12/30/2001 9:41:37 PM PST by seeker41
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To: oilfieldtrash
1 word... Bubba
6 posted on 12/30/2001 9:41:56 PM PST by Vote 4 Nixon
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To: Pericles
Gooooood. This is a first. Chechens historically have been the people who had no sellouts. They were this way with Stalin and their fighters in Afghanistan were the only ones who wanted to fight to the finish. Maybe they are realizing that their cause was mud and this is why they are doing this. I am glad they are. They can't beat Russia and they are only prolonging their own misery by causing trouble like this. These jerks better surrender if they know what's good for them. I went to a Chechen fundraiser in 1995 in Paterson New Jersey, and believe you me, that place was infested with fundamentalist fistwavers from the Arab world. They were bad news. Chechenia sold itself out to the badguys and they better correct that.
7 posted on 12/30/2001 9:44:09 PM PST by The Kitten
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To: nomasmojarras
Here is the url:

http://www.bcsys.com/warning/Movie_0006d77f.IETemp.mov

Shows the "peaceful and loving" religion of Islam in action.

8 posted on 12/30/2001 9:45:51 PM PST by ambrose
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To: ambrose
WARNING: THE VIDEO IS VERY GRAPHIC!!!

I watched it earlier today and have been bothered by it all day. It is particularly gruesome. I hope I don't have nightmares from it - and I thought I was a tough person, able to handle just about anything.....

9 posted on 12/30/2001 9:48:49 PM PST by SW6906
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Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: SW6906
At least it was black and white, taking away some "realism"... Pretty bad nevertheless... These friggin Muslims don't even have the decency to make it a quick bullet or clean beheading with a very sharp sword.
11 posted on 12/30/2001 9:51:01 PM PST by ambrose
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To: nomasmojarras
No, there is no warning. Dozens of people commented on a thread earlier today that they regretted watching it. It's one thing when it's a Stephen King movie, quite another when you know it is real.

It is incredible, the inhumanity of some "men".

12 posted on 12/30/2001 9:53:00 PM PST by SW6906
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To: ambrose
I guess they have taken it off the site. I cut/pasted the url into my browser and don't get a thing .. just a small icon in the upper left-hand corner of the browser window.

any suggestions on anything else that could be going on?

13 posted on 12/30/2001 10:01:06 PM PST by Brandybux
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: SW6906
That video is even worse with the sound on, I watched it months ago and wished I hadnt afterward. I had heard that it was taken during the Afgan war not in Chechnya.
15 posted on 12/30/2001 10:04:45 PM PST by Husker24
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Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: nomasmojarras
At the VERY least they could have just slit his throat, but no they had to stick that dull knife threw the side of his neck and cut outward, that was the most disgusting thing id ever seen, mainly because it was real.
17 posted on 12/30/2001 10:07:59 PM PST by Husker24
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Comment #18 Removed by Moderator

To: nomasmojarras
Well youve seen it, you know what im talking about.
19 posted on 12/30/2001 10:11:34 PM PST by Husker24
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To: nomasmojarras
I kid you not, I'm one of these guys who always says he'd love to be the one to "pull the trigger" or "flip the switch" on murderers and such, but watching that has really disturbed me. I don't care what the guy did - right or wrong - that is an incredibly gruesome and horrifying way to kill a person.

I can think of people who deserve to die that way and via worse ways, but I can say I could not do it, nor would I want to witness it. I know that now, having watched that.

20 posted on 12/30/2001 10:13:54 PM PST by SW6906
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