71.   Rebel spokesman Movladi Udugov told AFP by telephone that Russian interior ministry troops had triggered the clashes when they advanced on rebel positions near the centre.

72.   Russian Defence Minister Pavel Grachev said on Friday he wanted his men replaced with interior ministry troops within the next few days.

73.   Responding to the rally in Yerevan, police beefed up their presence around government buildings and elite interior ministry troops took up positions outside the presidential palace.

74.   Russian interior ministry troops had taken control of Chernorechye, the last bastion of resistance, the statement said.

75.   Security was high, with cordons of police and interior ministry troops.

76.   Skripnik was deputy commander of the North Caucasus region interior ministry troops.

77.   Shianov said the hospital was still surrounded by large numbers of special forces, interior ministry troops and police.

78.   Special interior ministry troops were then deployed.

79.   Tajikistan interior ministry troops killed three Islamic rebels and arrested two others in a clash in the Garm region Friday, the ministry said.

80.   The building was surrounded by elite interior ministry troops and special forces.