1.   Basayev led an incursion into the Russian region of Dagestan in August.

2.   Aleksandr Lebed, the outspoken former general, enhanced his presidential hopes on Sunday by winning a place in the runoff election for governor of a vast Russian region.

3.   But there is still a crying need for food, clothes and other assistance, despite donations from some Russian regions.

4.   Every day, columns of buses head back from the Russian region of Ingushetia, which took in most of those who fled the fighting.

5.   Gore is also pushing a packet of aid to Russian regions, and plans to visit Samara on the Volga River, Wednesday.

6.   In August, Chechnya-based Islamic militants twice invaded the neighboring Russian region of Dagestan.

7.   In most Russian regions a local monopoly controls all oil-storage capacity.

8.   Inefficient business practices, crumbling equipment and political battles over financing have fueled energy crises in a number of Russian regions.

9.   It is also allowing Russian regions to pay some of their debts with deliveries of food.

10.   Moscow says Maskhadov has no control over armed gangs numbering in the thousands that conduct raids in neighboring Russian regions and hold hostages for ransom.