91.  Human rights advocates and foreign governments have accused federal forces of indiscriminate bombardment and brutal treatment of civilians.

92.  Human rights groups have accused federal forces of using the operations to intimidate and harass local residents.

93.  However, Troshev did not say when the Russian strikes would be stopped, and there was no indication that federal forces were curtailing their attacks.

94.  Human rights advocates and foreign governments have accused the federal forces of indiscriminate bombardment of Chechen settlements and brutal treatment of civilians.

95.  In Argun, residents were barricaded inside their town for days as federal forces conducted house-to-house searches.

96.  In recent months, Chechen rebels have stepped up ambushes and bomb attacks against federal forces and Chechen officials cooperating with the Russian government.

97.  In other operations, federal forces destroyed four rebel bases, the spokesman said.

98.  Inside Chechnya on Saturday, the Russian military command said federal forces repelled a band of rebels attempting to infiltrate two towns in Russian-controlled central Chechnya.

99.  It appealed to Chechen civilians, urging them to negotiate with federal forces and expel rebel fighters from their settlements.

100.  It was the first time tribal elders have given federal forces permission to move into the semiautonomous region.