Chechens claim to recapture 4 villages

MOSCOW, Jan 3: Chechen forces on today recaptured four villages southwest of the capital Grozny from Russian control, a top rebel official told AFP by telephone from Chechnya.

Movladi Udugov said that Chechen fighters at around midday had expelled Russian troops from Alkhan-Khala, Alkhan-Yurt, Krasno-Partisanski and Kulary, some 10 km southwest of Grozny.

"The four localities are under Russian control, but clashes are continuing around Alkhan-Yurt and Kulary," Udugov said, underlining that Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev was in the area.

Between 140-200 federal troops had died and three Chechen guerillas were killed in the fighting, he added.

No confirmation or denial could be obtained in Moscow, where the ministry of defence was not contactable, Monday being a public holiday.

The operation to recapture the four localities was led by Chechen field commander Arbi Barayev, whom the Russians claimed to have killed in combat a few days ago, Udugov said.

Fierce clashes continued Monday in several areas of Grozny, with the most violent fighting in Khankala (east) and Chernorechiye (south), where the Chechens had recaptured some ground, according to the same source.

Russian troops for the past 10 days have been trying to seize control of the Chechen capital Grozny, after sweeping across the lowlands since invading the rebel republic on October 1.

Moscow has also launched an offensive in the mountainous south where the remaining rebel strongholds are based.

The last sustained Chechen counter-attack occurred in late November, when rebel forces launched a guerilla offensive in the eastern region of Gudermes, the second city, claiming to retake two towns.