| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus |
| Rebels Kill Eight in Chechnya |
| 2003-03-29 |
| Chechen rebels killed six Russian soldiers and two riot police Saturday, only days after voters approved a Moscow-backed constitution that cemented the breakaway republic to the Russian Federation. The Kremlin had advertised Sunday's referendum as the beginning of a peace process for Chechnya. But the violence continued this week. So much for the referendum. Since Friday, Russian federal outposts came under rebel fire 16 times, an official in the Moscow-backed Chechen administration said Saturday. Rebels also clashed with riot police in Vedeno on Friday, killing two police officers. Two rebels were detained, the official said. Land mines, meanwhile, killed three soldiers and wounded six others. The military bombed suspected rebel bases and federal forces rounded up at least 140 people in sweep operations, which have been sharply criticized for widespread abuses. Earlier this week, Russia's foreign minister called on international organizations to help rebuild the war-shattered region. Hello? Hello? Vlad? Sorry, can't hear you! Rebuild? Yes, we want international support for rebuilding Iraq. Where? Not Iraq? Where? Hello? President Vladimir Putin also called for a new amnesty law for rebels and an agreement outlining the clear division of power between Chechnya and the federal center. "Here's the agreement, you Chechnan |
| Posted by:Steve White |