21.   The Russian military command said one Russian soldier was killed and eight were wounded when Chechen separatists attacked two defence ministry posts in southeastern Chechnya overnight.

22.   The separatists attacked several Russian military posts on the edge of Grozny with heavy weapons early Saturday, the Chechen command said.

23.   Separatists meanwhile accused Russian forces of having surrounded several southeastern villages, while Russian troops said the separatists had attacked a Russian military convoy in eastern Chechnya.

24.   Several districts of Grozny erupted with small-arms, machinegun and grenade fire as separatists attacked Russian positions at dawn, an AFP correspondent said.