1.   But he had barely entered the republic when his car was surrounded by a gang of armed men and he was taken away.

2.   He had been seized by Chechens after entering the republic from Georgia without a visa.

3.   Russia has been threatening to bomb Grozny since its troops entered the republic in force a week ago Sunday.

4.   Police thoroughly checked people seeking to enter the republic.

5.   Russian forces took control of lowland Chechnya soon after entering the republic in September, but have stalled in the southern mountains.

6.   Interfax said a duty officer at the Chechen interior ministry had confirmed that Russian troops had entered the republic.