A Chechen refugee tries to get information about his hometown from Russian troops at the Chechen-Ingushetia border

January 14, 2000
Web posted at: 12:53 p.m. EST (1753 GMT)

In this story: Ivanov: U.S. supports terrorists Russia again denies casualties are mounting RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

GROZNY, Russia -- Russian troops conducted more house-to-house searches throughout Chechnya on Friday, looking for rebels who have staged a new offensive in recent days, but the military appeared to at least partially lift a ban on Chechen males crossing the border at neighboring Ingushetia.

	MESSAGE BOARD
Russia's future

Russia also accused the United States of supporting terrorism and complicating the situation in the Caucasus by receiving an envoy from Chechnya.

Russia drew international criticism when it announced its border crackdown on Chechen males ages 10 to 60, those considered to be of fighting age. Governments, including the United States, complained that the ban was preventing civilian boys and men from escaping the fighting in Chechnya.

State Department spokesman James Rubin on Thursday repeated the U.S. position of "strong opposition to any non-respect for the fundamental human rights of citizens, civilians, in and around Chechnya."

There were conflicting reports on Friday about whether the ban had been lifted. A policeman in Ingushetia was quoted by Reuters as saying the border was open.

"The border is clear, there are no restrictions," said Shamil Mirzoyev, a policeman at the border not far from Nazran. "Boys and men aged 10 to 60 are also passing."

Reuters reported that several buses with men on board were allowed to pass the crossing. But an NTV television correspondent said he had been told that Moscow had only raised the lower age limit to 15. And Ingushetia's president, Ruslan Aushev, told the Interfax news agency a total ban still was in force.

Valery Manilov, first deputy chief of the Russian General Staff, and Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu said Friday that the ban was temporary. They did not indicate the ban was being lifted.

Manilov said federal troops still would conduct identity checks in Russian-controlled areas to prevent any repeat of last weekend's rebel counterattacks. He said the Russians would make life tough for those "inclined to take up arms, kill and rob at night."

Ivanov: U.S. supports terrorists

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov accused the United States of supporting "separatists and terrorists" for allowing a Chechen representative to visit the United States.

Ilyas Akhmadov, who acts as Chechnya's foreign minister, arrived in Washington on January 11. Rubin said Akhmadov will meet "desk-level officials from several bureaus ... to discuss the conflict in Chechnya, including humanitarian and refugee concerns."

Rubin said Akhmadov was invited to the United States by two outside organizations and that his presence does not reflect a shift in U.S. policy.

"These discussions do not constitute a change in policy or recognition of Chechnya in any way, shape or form," Rubin said. "We continue to hold the view and recognize Chechnya as a constituent part of the Russian Federation."

But Ivanov said, "We have more than once announced that this type of action implies support for terrorists and separatists, and not only in Russia."

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry announced that a delegation from the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, Europe's top human rights watchdog, would arrive in Russia on Sunday for a four-day visit to Moscow, Chechnya and surrounding regions.

Russian soldier in Chechnya

Russia again denies casualties are mounting

The Russian Defense Ministry dismissed a report by Interfax that 33 soldiers had died and 26 had been wounded on Thursday, saying instead that one Russian soldier had died and 13 had been wounded, while 40 rebels were killed.

The Defense Ministry's statement, released on Friday, called media reports of higher casualties "conscious lies." Manilov said the reporting "misinforms the Russian and international public."

Casualty figures in Chechnya often cannot be independently confirmed.

The controversy over casualty figures came as Russian planes and helicopter gunships flew more than 130 combat missions over the past 24 hours, the military said Friday. Targets included suspected rebel positions in the capital, Grozny.

Russia sent ground troops into Chechnya in late September after weeks of airstrikes. The offensive was launched to wipe out Islamic rebels who twice invaded the neighboring republic of Dagestan last summer and who are blamed for apartment bombings in Russia that killed about 300 people. The rebels deny involvement in the apartment bombings.

Correspondent Steve Harrigan, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.