61.   Russian aircraft and artillery have pounded the ruined Chechen capital throughout the week.

62.   Russian aircraft attacked rebel positions in the Vedeno, Itum-Kale and Nozhai-Yurt regions, the official said.

63.   Russian aircraft companies tend to lag behind Western rivals in the areas of electronics and avionics.

64.   Russian aircraft continued to concentrate their fire on the rebel-held Argun and Vedeno gorges.

65.   Russian aircraft officials flew to Iran on Monday to finalize a deal for building a new Tupolev passenger plane in Iran, a news agency reported.

66.   Russian aircraft rocket the town of Shali.

67.   Russian aircraft also hit the outskirts of Grozny with missiles early today, the ITAR-Tass news agency said.

68.   Russian aircraft and artillery on Tuesday bombarded the Argun and Vedeno gorges, which are key rebel refuges, and the southern regions of Itum-Kale and Shali.

69.   Russian aircraft and artillery, meanwhile, pounded rebel positions in the mountains of southern Chechnya, a traditional separatist stronghold, including the Vedeno area.

70.   Russian aircraft and rockets blasted Chechen positions Tuesday.