Russia Vows Winter Campaign Against Chechen Rebels

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 07, 2001

Russia Vows Winter Campaign Against Chechen Rebels

Russian Defense Minster SergeiIvanov vowed Thursday to launch a winter offensive targeting themilitary leadership of the Chechen rebels.

Russian Defense Minster SergeiIvanov vowed Thursday to launch a winter offensive targeting themilitary leadership of the Chechen rebels.

Ivanov, who was on a visit to the Volga region city ofYeketerinburg, also said the army planned to cut its trooppresence in the Northern Caucasus, which includes Chechnya."Special operations involving big forces are being conductedright now in Chechnya practically on a permanent basis," Itar-tassquoted the minister as saying.

"I promise, in winter, we will seek to liquidate the remainingbandit groups, and capture or destroy their ringleaders."Ivanov declared that by spring 2002, all the federal troops notbelonging to the North Caucasian Military District were to bewithdrawn from Chechnya.

However, he stressed, there will be no slowdown in theactivities of the federal group in Chechnya, including the Defense,Interior and FSB units, "no matter whatever speculations about thealleged talks, contacts and consultations might be."The consultations only dealt with the fate of those who havenot tainted their hands with blood yet and committed no violentcrimes, he added.