RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: GROZNY: LATEST SITUATION

(10 Jan 1995) Natural Sound

Russian troops and Chechen rebels violated Boris Yeltsin's orders for a 48 hour ceasefire today.

Bursts of gunfire and sniper attack rang through the streets of Grozny early this morning.

War has taken a toll on the Chechen capital, but Russian troops have yet to seize the presidential palace.

As Boris Yeltsin's plans for a 48-hour Chechen ceasefire were violated early this morning, Grozny lay in ruin.

The cease fire went into effect at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) but held only briefly.

Bombing and the burst of gun fire has reduced the presidential palace, a symbol of Chechen independence, to ruin.

The entire top left hand corner of the 9-storey building has been shot away but the Russians have yet to seize it.

Chechen President Dzhokar Dudayev has fled the building. He made a brief appearance on Chechen television last night. His message was that, despite the casualties and the irreparable damage, the Chechens will continue to resist.

Dudayev's exact whereabouts are still unclear.

His palace now serves as a holding place for Russian dead. Prisoners are kept in the basement.

Meanwhile, the city burns. Grozny has been reduced to a mess of smoke, mud and drizzle.

The roads are filled with craters. Streets are littered with debris, rubble and burned out armored personnel carriers.

But the Chechen tanks continue to patrol.

Russia is demanding that the Chechens lay down their arms and return captured their soldiers. Moscow has sent more reinforcements to the rebel republic.

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