11.   If the Chechen independence drive succeeds, it could be a boost to other Caucasians seeking more autonomy.

12.   Landsbergis said he is convinced that former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev took part in the plans to crush the independence drive.

13.   Last December, Moscow sent its troops to the breakaway southern republic of Chechnya to end its three-year independence drive.

14.   Last December, Moscow sent its troops to the breakaway southern republic of Chechnya to suppress its three-year independence drive.

15.   Mesic commended Tudjman for the independence drive.

16.   Meanwhile, the battle to crush the independence drive in Chechnya continues, with renewed shelling following the end of the truce, with no new talks being announced.

17.   On Saturday, Latvia was to commemorate the anniversary of that attack, which was part of a wider Soviet crackdown to independence drives in its three Baltic republics.

18.   Premier Vance Amory, the force behind the independence drive, urged citizens to ignore naysayers who warned the tiny island cannot sustain itself in a global economy.

19.   Russia has withdrawn its troops from Chechnya after an unsuccessful attempt to quench its independence drive, but continues to insist that Chechnya is part of Russia.

20.   Russia sent troops and a huge amount of military armor into Chechnya in December to crush its independence drive.