| OCR Text |
Show ee The Salt Lake Tribune WORLD ,D al Assault Begun Russia’s Duma Holds Last Session THE ASSOCIATED PRESS On Chechen Capital, MOSCOW — Russia's communist-dominated lower house its last Russian General Says session on Friday, ending a four- year term marked by frequent clashes with President Boris Yeltsin and a political stalemate that made it impossible to get Federal forces claini they cut key rebel supply line BY MIGUEL GIL MORENO | ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | GROZNY, Russia ~ Russian ierees tightened their squeeze Friday on rebels hiding inChechnya’s | ered southern moustains, while |R ler in Chech| assault on | the capital, Grozny, had begun. | After seizing mgst of northern | Chechnya, Russi troops have | been pushing sputh in recent | weeks, and on Friday they re- | pulsed three attempts by militants | to escape south to Georgia, the | military command said. Russian jets and helicopter gunshipsat- fighters to cross into the break- away republic. Georgia has hotly denied theallegations. Thefighters also said they were still able to get in and out of Grozny, despite Russian gains on thecapital. “Certainly when you use the there is a risk of running into Russians, since they often change their positionsin the dark. | gun Gorge in southern Chechnya, during such trips,” said a fighter | mews ageycy reported. The Rus- | had bees killed but that there were no losses among federal | forces. The toll could not be con- have been no serious casualties wholeft Grozny overnight. He gave onlyhis first name, Adian. Under a light snow, Russian forces shelled the center of Grozny on Friday, including the vicinity | firmed, andboth sides tend to ex- ofoneofits last remaining outdoor food markets. Chechen rebels and | while playing down their own. pro-Moscow militia members traded heavy fire in the eastern | aggerate the other's casualties | Rebel fighters appeared uncon- Khankaladistrict. Many militants Guatemala Voters MayElect Ally Of Ex-Dictator THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN MARTIN JILOTEPEQUE, Guatemala — Cecilio Lucas remembers the bloody horror of government-sponsored massacres in his poorIndian village nearly 20 years ago. “They burned houses andkilled elections, the ‘adie eee by Sar ae the comm Lec had ined|to frustrate government reforms. tains stocked with food and VCRs, guerrillas said Friday that small roads to Georgia remain open. Russia has accused Georgia, the only foreign country bordering on Chechnya, of aiding the rebels by allowing weapons and But we usually move in small groups and verycautiously. There | sian military said dozens of rebels rate al one-quarterof the vote in Sony 19 cerned about the setback. Speaking from a cavebase in the moun- | tacked three /rebel bases in the southern mountains. | Russian paratroopers sealed a | key rebel supply route in the Arleading to Georgia, the ITAR-Tass new State " Misha Japaridze/The Asooclated Press A Russian soldier has a smoke in the back of a military truck leaving Chechnya on Friday. Russian forces shelled Grozny, the Chechen capital, and pressured rebel forces in the mountains. During our Annual After Christmas Sale, could be seen in thestreets, you'll Save 34% onfirst-quality Yankees Candles. Russia’s military commander in Chechnya,Col, Gen. Viktor Kazantsev, said Friday that the “special operation” to take control of Grozny had begun, ITAR- Tass reported. Russian troops have encircled the city and have been probing rebel defenses with frequent raids. Russian generals have vowed to avoid mistakes of the 1994-96 Chechnya war, in which Russian forces were mauled while storming thecity. Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Koshman, Russia’s representative in Chechnya, suggested thatcivilians remaining in Grozny have “understood that they can survive where theyare, and weare trying to avoid hitting|the areas where they are located. Officials on Friday continued human rights advocates that Russian soldiers had in the Sale runs from Sunday, December 26, 1999 throughSaturday,January 1, 2000. Chechen village of Alkhan-Yurt earlier this month,killing at least Sorry, no rain checks or substitutions will be made. Corn reports by refugees and 23 civilians, A pro-Moscow Chechen leader, Malik Saidullayev,told Associated Press Television News on Friday that two officers and 15 contract soldiers had been detained and - charged in the incident. However, Russia’s chief mili- tary prosecutor, Yuri Yakovlev, said that an investigation had been opened butthat no violations had been foundso far. te of The Year GART tag os Selection is limited to stock on hand. YANKEE CANDLE" America’s Premiere Scented Candle Company Shops at Riverwood Provo, UT 801-426-9200 Open at 8am* oSeyY people,” the 37--year-old restaurant manager said. “They thought everyone was a guerrilla, There were only a few, but they came in and killed everyone anyway.” Yet in Sunday’s preside \tial election runoff, Lucas and many other residents support Alfonso Portillo, a close ally of one of Guatemala’s most notorious military dictators, Efrain Rios Montt. Despite their past suffering and fears of renewed violence, they say they would rathervote for Portillo than re-elect a ruling that has donelittle to rescue them from in- Save °50 Cov evan coata) flation, poverty and crime. “Whatother alternative do we have?” Lucas said. “Portillo will make health care free... He's going to increase employment.” Portillo, a populist lawyer who fell just shy of the majority needed to win the election's first round Nov.7, is virtually assured of winning. Polls show him with more than double the support of ruling party candidate Oscar Berger. That troubles human rights groups because of Portillo’s ties to Rios Montt, whose 1962-83 rule was among the bloodiest in Guatema- winner Rigoberta Menchu has refused to meet with Portillo. Last week, she filed a complaint in a Spanishcourt accusing Rios Montt of genocidal policies thatled to the murder and disappearance of her relatives duringhis rule. But for most Guatemalans, human rights is not a major concern. “They prefer the risk of a new government, to see if they will be Laelto i better and have ohh id Manfredo Marroq’ io‘of‘Citizen's Action, yeteals a think tank in Guatemala Ci Portillo has dismissed fears Guat president-elect of the National “Neither the Congress will rule the rey nor the een will rule Congress,” told radio station Radio Hele “We are different and we are indeone: Wewill confront prob- lems by Lepond negotiating and reaching an ment.” In San Martin Jilotepeque, 45 miles northwest of Guatemala City, some residents are not so sure there won't be more bloodshed. But they say it's a risk worth Blanca Lidia Chex, an Indian woman selling clothing in San on crime. “ have been Peers many assailants.” Chex smiled and thought for a moment. “They've also told me that if he wins, there will be violence, There could be. I lived eeerancane elected, prices will continue to, Interinymarkdowns may have been taken. Styles, sizes or colors vary by location. limited. 439900310 Coupa Sale 12/25/99. Exp. 12/27/90. SPORTSCASTLE 5550 South 900 East 801-263-3633 South 801-263-3633 10200 S. State St. (Kast of }-15) 10200 S. State St. (Kast of 1-15) 601-566-7404 <= Martin's noisy central market, said she was voting for Portillo beae of his promise to crack down 801-566-7404 |
