Chechen rebels claimed Friday to have shot down a Russian military transport plane, killing dozens of federal crack troops aboard.
Movladi Udugov, a rebel official close to Chechen leaders Shamil Basayev and Khattab, said the Russian helicopter was shot down at 1:00 p.m. (0900 GMT) over the southeastern Vedeno Gorge.
Speaking from an undisclosed location by telephone, Udugov said all of the OMON troops on board died in the crash.
A Kremlin official contacted by telephone said she had no information about any such attack.
Both Russians and Chechens' reports on other side's losses are not confirmed by independent sources - MOSCOW (AFP)
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