71.  Federal forces claimed progress against the rebels, but apparently were still far from capturing the center of Grozny.

72.  Federal forces denied the claim.

73.  Federal forces encircled the western village of Bamut, where rebels have turned an abandoned nuclear missile base into an underground stronghold and were putting up fierce resistance.

74.  Federal forces have kept it sealed off since Saturday, stopping people from fleeing the fighting and preventing relief workers from entering.

75.  Federal forces have occupied Grozny since February.

76.  Federal forces occupy about two thirds of the republic.

77.  Federal forces said they were tightening security measures after hearing warnings of planned terrorist attacks.

78.  For months, federal forces have controlled most of Chechnya, but rebel guerrilla attacks have persisted.

79.  He claimed federal forces were using weapons banned by international conventions, such as dart bombs and nerve gases.

80.  He claimed federal forces had not apprehended a single rebel and said they found no weapons or explosives during the raids.