51. Russian helicopter gunships, and rocket and artillery batteries have been heavily pounding the village since Wednesday, AFP correspondents said. 52. Russian warplanes and heavy artillery on Wednesday unleashed a firestorm on southern Chechnya, pounding mountain villages in an offensive that killed and wounded many civilians. 53. Russian forces pounded villages in the breakaway republic of Chechnya Friday, the first day of a ceasefire ordered by President Boris Yeltsin. 54. Russian warplanes and heavy artillery on Wednesday unleashed a firestorm on southern Chechnya, pounding mountain villages in an offensive that killed and wounded numerous civilians. 55. Russian warplanes and heavy artillery pounded the village for several days, and the military said Monday the base had been destroyed. 56. Russian warplanes pounded several villages in southeastern Chechnya overnight Sunday and early Monday despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by Moscow, witnesses told AFP. 57. Since Russian President Boris Yeltsin announced a peace plan for the breakaway Caucasus republic of Chechnya at the end of March, Russian aircraft have repeatedly pounded Chechen villages. 58. The attack, confirmed by the Russians, took place at dawn as Russian shells and rockets pounded the village and helicopter gunships flew overhead. |