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MOSCOW, July 29 (AFP) - Chechen separatists attacked a convoy of Russian troops Saturday just outside the capital Grozny, Russian news agencies reported, but the number of casualties was not immediately known. The Interfax news agency reported that at least one Russian serviceman was killed in the attack. A correspondent for the private NTV television network reported from the scene that Russian troops suffered several casualties. But the ITAR-TASS news agency cited the office of Sergei Yastrzhembsky, the Kremlin's top spokesman on Chechnya, as saying only one soldier had been wounded. According to NTV, the Russian column left the Khankala military base east of Grozny and headed south towards the Argun gorge with a helicopter escort, as is standard Russian army practice. The helicopter left the column for unknown reasons as it reached the village of Prigorodnoye, about five kilometers (three miles) south of Grozny, NTV reported. Soon afterwards, the lead truck in the convoy was blown up, either by a land mine or following a rocket-grenade attack. Chechen separatists then heavily attacked the convoy from positions high above in the gorges, NTV said. The fighting was intense and lasted several hours, both NTV and the ITAR-TASS news agency reported. It was the latest of several clashes that have killed 19 Russian soldiers over a seven-day period. |
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