61.   There were no immediate reports of casualties or rebel resistance to the latest military action which coincided with the freedom day celebrations led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

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

63.   It said there was only light rebel resistance to the army push launched from Kilali, the boat landing point of the Tigers captured by security forces in April.

64.   Meanwhile troops met weak rebel resistance early Friday when they reoccupied army barracks inside the zone run by leftist guerrillas until late Wednesday.

65.   On Thursday the presidential palace, core of the rebel resistance, was still controlled by the Chechens.

66.   Rebel resistance had been minimal, the ministry added.

67.   Russian forces kept up an offensive across southern Chechnya on Friday, despite fierce rebel resistance and heavy military and civilian casualties.

68.   Russian forces kept up a brutal offensive across southern Chechnya on Friday, despite fierce rebel resistance and heavy military and civilian casualties.

69.   SOUTHWESTERN CHECHNYA, Russia Russian forces keep up an offensive across southern Chechnya, despite fierce rebel resistance and heavy military and civilian casualties.

70.   The announcement coincided with new reports of fighting in the Chechen capital of Grozny, where Russian forces are trying to dislodge pockets of rebel resistance.