21.  Earlier Saturday, the Russian defence ministry said Russian troops were pressing on with their offensive into southern Chechnya.

22.  The Russian defence ministry denied that civilian targets had been attacked.

23.  The Russian defence ministry meanwhile acknowledged that Russian troops surrounding Arshty had opened fire, but only after coming under fire themselves, Interfax reported.

24.  The Russian defence ministry would neither confirm nor deny the reported release.

25.  The Russian defence ministry could not be reached for confirmation.

26.  The Russian defence ministry has maintained official denials that the soldiers were part of a regular Russian army unit.

27.  The Russian defence minister also indicated that the Bush-Putin summit could see the signature of a common declaration on security.

28.  The Russian defence ministry admitted that its planes had carried out those raids.

29.  The Russian defence ministry will continue to use the radar station without paying Azerbaijan, Turan reported, citing the press service of the Azerbaijani defence ministry.

30.  The Russian defence ministry denied the charge.