January 9, 2000
Web posted at: 1:57 p.m. EST (1857 GMT)

From staff and wire reports

MOSCOW (CNN) -- The Russian military and Chechen rebels made counterclaims on Sunday about whether a key town near the Chechen capital of Grozny had fallen to Russian control. Russia conceded, however, that the rebels had taken back areas in the town of Argun from Russian troops.

According to Russian press reports, Russian troops, backed by war planes, have encircled the strategic town of Vedeno, which borders the republic of Dagestan. Vedeno is thought to be a major stronghold of Chechen rebels and is the hometown of Shamil Bassayev, a top Chechen commander who is considered public enemy No. 1 in Russia.

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The rebels deny the reports about Vedeno. They also say they have reconquered some areas around the crucial and embattled capital, mainly Argun. These areas south of Grozny previously were taken by Russian troops.

The Russian military acknowledged the rebels blocked key points in Argun. Interfax news agency, quoting the press center of the eastern group of Russian troops in Chechnya, said 300 fighters had surrounded the military command headquarters and the railway station in Argun, 15 kilometers (nine miles) east of the capital Grozny.

Russia has been waging war against Islamic militants in the breakaway republic of Chechnya since September, after militants twice invaded the republic of Dagestan. Moscow also blames the rebels for a series of bombings in Russia that killed at least 300 people, but rebels deny responsibility.

Russia suffered disastrous losses in Grozny in its earlier 1994-1996 war in Chechnya.

Interfax: Fighting raging in Shali

RIA news agency, quoting Russian military sources, said about 100 rebels had burst through Russian lines in Shali, farther south, and seized the town's main administrative building. It said both Russian troops and local officials had suffered casualties. Interfax said fighting raged in Shali, but that Russian armored vehicles had made their way into the town.

Interfax quoted the press secretary of Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov as saying that rebels had already seized Shali which, like Argun, had been occupied by Russian troops.

Interfax also reported that a convoy of interior ministry troops taking supplies to troops in Dzhalka, northeast of Grozny, had been ambushed by rebels and had requested reinforcements.

Russia has taken control of most of Chechnya's lowland towns and villages while the rebels are entrenched mainly in the southern mountains.

The Russian military on Friday scaled back its attacks on rebels in parts of Grozny, saying civilians were being used as human shields.

Correspondent Alessio Vinci and Reuters contributed to this report.

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