31.   He accused the rebels of trying to provoke a Russian assault.

32.   He said the fall of Shali had prompted other towns and villages to run off rebel fighters rather than face a Russian assault.

33.   His comments echoed those of refugees who fled the village after the Russian assault.

34.   Hundreds of Chechen fighters were inside the presidential palace, a key objective of the three-day-old Russian assault.

35.   Hundreds of rebel fighters took over the town and held it for more than a week against a Russian assault.

36.   Hundreds of rebel fighters took over the town and held it for more than a week against a massive Russian assault.

37.   In a wide-ranging interview, Christopher escalated his criticism of the Russian assault on secessionist Chechnya.

38.   In Samashky, another western village, reporters allowed to visit after a Russian assault last weekend stood awkwardly as Chechens grieved for relatives killed in the offensive.

39.   In the countryside, there were few people on the roads and the Chechens prepared to resist a fresh Russian assault.

40.   In the countryside, there were few people on the roads, and the Chechens prepared to resist a fresh Russian assault.