Russian forces claimed 22 rebel dead in an artillery barrage Sunday, as security across Chechnya remained tight amid fears of guerrilla attacks to mark their capture of Grozny in 1996.
Russian gunners opened fire after a group of 100 rebels were spotted in woods near the village of Petropavlovskaya, northeast of Grozny, Interfax and ITAR-TASS reported.
The bodies of 22 rebels were later found at the scene, the news agencies said. It was not possible to confirm the reports independently. Both sides have exaggerated their enemy's losses during the 10-month Chechen conflict.
Russian forces also opened fire on an unspecified number of rebels as they drove through the neighbouring republic of Ingushetia, the Russian military chief-of-staff for the north Caucasus region said, cited by Itar-Tass.
Late Saturday, some 2,000 civilians fled Chechnya after a rebel leaflet drop warned of "armed actions against Russian bases" designed to commemorate the storming of Grozny by rebels on August 6, 1996.
The operation dealt a crushing blow to Russian morale and prompted Moscow to sign a truce that effectively ended the 21-month conflict. Russian troops later quit the breakaway Russian republic humiliated, handing Grozny de facto independence.
But General Vladimir Bokovikov, President Vladimir Putin's personal envoy to southern Russia, vowed "there will never be a repeat of 1996, when (Russian) forces left" Chechnya.
The official also called on Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov to end his "pointless" struggle, Interfax reported.
Security was tight in the interim capital Gudermes and in Grozny, where reinforcements had been despatched ahead of the anniversary.
Eight mine clearance experts were hurt in three separate blasts in the ruined former capital. Three people were arrested for mine laying in the southern Shali district, said Interfax.
In neighboring Dagestan, meanwhile, two women died and three other people were hurt when a car bomb erupted in Khasavyurt, police said.
Russian military chiefs have been warning all week that Chechen guerrillas could launch a wave of attacks to show they remain a force to be reckoned with despite 10 months of bitter battles in the latest war.
Officials said the threat of rebel attacks had prompted the exodus from Grozny, Gudermes, Argun, Shali and Urus-Martan, with some 2,000 civilians crossing the border late Saturday into neighboring Ingushetia -- SLEPTSOVSK, Russia (AFP)
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