51.   Russian aircraft and artillery have been bombarding the Argun and Vedeno gorges for weeks, trying to rout rebels from their hide-outs.

52.   Russian aircraft and rockets blasted a village and other Chechen positions Tuesday and columns of troops and tanks moved to surround the capital of the defiant Caucasus Mountains region.

53.   Russian aircraft bombed mountain villages south of Grozny on Sunday, a Moscow radio station reported.

54.   Russian aircraft conducted intensive bombing of suspected rebel bases in two districts southwest of Grozny, the official said.

55.   Russian aircraft designers have developed a ski jump allowing a fighter jet to take off after a short run, a news agency reported Monday.

56.   Russian aircraft raid Chechen villages.

57.   Russian military aircraft have crashed frequently in recent years due to a shortage of funds that has reduced the level of maintenance and training.

58.   Residents said Russian aircraft also bombed sheep fields and farms in southwest Chechnya.

59.   Russian aircraft also attacked the villages of Tsentoroi in the southeast and Alleroi in the east, the unidentified rebel spokesman told the Interfax news agency.

60.   Russian aircraft also pounded rebel targets just west of Chechnya in the Russian republic of Ingushetia.