51.   They have suffered intense Russian bombardments.

52.   Two green independence flags were raised over the ruin of the presidential palace, where Chechens held out for weeks under massive Russian bombardments.

53.   Thousands of Chechen civilians in the town of Shali feared a Russian bombardment Saturday as fighting raged in the south of the breakaway Caucasus republic.

54.   This latest bid to resolve the conflict comes amid a bold offensive launched by the rebels following weeks of Russian bombardments of their mountain bases and villages.

55.   It came after overnight Russian bombardment of Bamut, one the last pockets of rebel resistance in western Chechnya.

56.   Large parts of Grozny have been left in ruins after massive Russian bombardments of the city since December to drive out its rebel Chechen defenders.

57.   Meetings in support of Dudayev have been continuing in Shali for several days, and residents said they feared a Russian bombardment was imminent.

58.   Meanwhile, AFP correspondents at the Chechen capital of Grozny said Russian bombardments of Chechen positions in the city were continuing Tuesday.

59.   Meanwhile, AFP correspondents in Grozny said Russian bombardments of Chechen positions in the city were continuing Tuesday.

60.   Otherwise the villages are attacked and occupied, often after being destroyed by Russian bombardments.