Russia pulls out some troops from Chechnya

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, MARCH 13.The Russian army has begun a partial pullout from Chechnya as Moscow is shifting responsibility for fighting rebels to special forces.

The first trainload of Russian troops left Chechnya on Tuesday in what was described as "a partial reduction of excessive forces". Under a plan approved by the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, earlier this year the bulk of army units stationed in Chechnya are to be withdrawn and control over the military operation is to be transferred from the Defence Ministry to the Federal Security Service.

General Staff officials said 30,000 out of 40,000 Defence Ministry troops would be pulled out this year, reducing the military strength in the rebel republic from 80,000 to 50,000 servicemen. The majority of remaining troops will belong to the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service.

Russia's military commander in Chechnya, Gen. Valery Baranov, said the army would first of all pull out heavy armour, long- range and rocket artillery for which there was no use as organised rebel resistance had been crushed. It was now up to special anti-terrorist forces to hunt down remaining rebels, he added.

However, some military experts expect a new flareup of fighting in Chechnya this spring when greenery provides good cover to separatist militants. Russian forces continue to suffer daily losses at the hands of rebels who mine roads and mount lightening night-time attacks on federal troops. Three soldiers were killed and several wounded on Tuesday as a military truck they were travelling in was ambushed by rebels.

According to official figures, close to 2000 soldiers have been killed and nearly 5,500 wounded since August 1999 when fighting broke out in North Caucasus, three years after the end of the first Chechen war.

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Section  : International
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