81.   Despite U.S. demands to extend a cease-fire in war-torn Chechnya, Russian forces pounded rebel positions Wednesday with artillery, rockets and attack helicopters.

82.   Detoyato said helicopter gunships also pummeled rebel positions in Pagalungan town in Maguindanao with rockets and machine fire in a series of sorties for about three hours.

83.   Details of the bombing on the rebel positions were not immediately available, he said.

84.   Despite protests from Chechnya, Russia considers rebel positions in Chechnya to be valid targets.

85.   Earlier Monday, Albanian sources said that armed Serb civilians were backing up regular Serbian forces targeting the coal mine and other rebel positions in nearby villages.

86.   Earlier in the day, government forces launched a heavy artillery barrage against the rebel positions near Bissau.

87.   Earlier Monday, Albanian sources said armed Serb civilians were backing up regular Serbian forces targeting the coal mine and other rebel positions in nearby villages.

88.   ECOMOG said in a statement that it had recaptured the government State House and was advancing on rebel positions.

89.   Eloy Avila, who is acting Bolivian ambassador while the regular envoy is hostage, said he found hope in the softening of rebel positions.

90.   Elsewhere in embattled Chechnya, Russian commanders said warplanes and artillery attacked rebel positions in the south.