RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: RUSSIAN SOLDIERS PULL OUT OF GROZNY

(28 Aug 1996) Russian/Nat

Truckloads of Russian soldiers pulled out of the Chechen capital past rebel fighters Wednesday as peace efforts crept forward in the breakaway republic.

Two days after truce violations halted the military's withdrawal almost as soon as it began, scores of Russian army vehicles streamed out of the Chechen capital, Grozny.

The Russian commander in Chechnya, Lieutenant General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, said the military pullout would be over by August 31.

In Moscow, a spokesman for Boris Yeltsin says the president is still making decisions on the situation despite being on vacation.

Russian soldiers stared their withdrawal from the shattered Chechen capital, Grozny Wednesday.

The withdrawal comes despite claims of overnight truce violations by separatist rebels.

Russians who were heading for the neighbouring Republic of Dagestan had attached bouquets of leaves and branches at the rear of their trucks to sweep away their tracks - a symbolic gesture showing they don't intend to return.

The happy Chechen rebels fired in the air from their weapons as they made their way to their base in the village of Shatoi.

Rebel fighters who will serve on the joint Russian-Chechen military unit set up under the truce discussed the final pull-out plans with the Russian soldiers.

The sight of hundreds of Russian tanks and military vehicles pulling out of Grozny would have been unthinkable this time last week when thousands of the city's inhabitants were fleeing their homes fearing a storming of the city by Russian forces.

Russian security chief Alexander Lebed reached an agreement last week with rebel leaders to halt fighting and withdraw Russian troops.

The Russian military suspended the pullout over the weekend, but Tikhomirov and a Chechen leader signed an agreement Tuesday to resume the military withdrawal.

They also pledged a prisoner exchange.

Despite the four-day-old truce mediated by Lebed, few on either side were predicting the bloodshed is over.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"I don't believe Russia. I can't say that the war has ended but our side there won't be any provocation on our side."
SUPER CAPTION: Letchi Mauchaev, Russian Chechen commander

About 30,000 people, mostly civilians, are believed to have died since Boris Yeltsin sent troops into mostly Muslim Chechnya 20 months ago to end the tiny region's bid for independence.

In Moscow, Boris Yeltsin's spokesman reiterated that despite the Russian president's vacation, Yeltsin has still been making decisions on the situation.

SOUNDBITE:

Russian spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky

The spokesman declined questions on the state of Yeltsin's health or when the president would be expected to return from vacation.

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