1.   The army wants to use the extra funds to set up watchtowers and reinforced firing positions, the army spokesman said.

2.   The rebels fired at advancing Russian units from reinforced positions inside apartment buildings around the station, Interfax reported.

3.   The village was nearly deserted Wednesday, except for about two dozen policemen in heavily reinforced positions.

4.   He said the fighting mid-afternoon was concentrated around Russian reinforced positions defending the government building.