11.  A Russian defence ministry spokesman said the raids came after Chechen forces attacked Russian troops.

12.  A senior official from the Russian defence ministry said plans for closer military cooperation were being studied.

13.  A Russian defence ministry spokesman said groups of Chechen rebels were entering Grozny during the night and opening fire on Russian forces with mortars and machine-guns.

14.  According to Sergeyev, the Topol system is set to become an important part of the Russian nuclear defence fleet.

15.  A spokesman for the Russian defence ministry did not confirm or deny the information.

16.  But there was no independent confirmation of the sorties and the Russian defence ministry denied that its planes had raided or conducted airstrikes over Grozny on Sunday.

17.  But the Interfax news agency reported that the Russian defence ministry is considering shelving the treaty.

18.  But the Russian defence ministry source suggested to Interfax that the US side was ready to compromise.

19.  Cheyniss also denied Russian defence ministry statements according to which the entire city centre had been captured.

20.  Earlier a Russian defence ministry spokesman, Nikolai Deryabin, told the news agency the four soldiers captured by a group of armed men late Monday had been released.