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Russia plans new Dagestan offensive

The Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev and Interior Minister Vladimir Rushailo are meeting local officials to discuss a new offensive against the rebels.

Reports from Moscow say Russia is sending some 500 extra troops as well as heavy armour into Dagestan.

The Russian air force is also reported to be flying missions against the insurgents.

Armed forces chief, General Anatoly Kvashnin, told parliament that the rebellion would be crushed within days in line with orders from the new Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin.

On the offensive

During a meeting with Mr Putin, President Boris Yeltsin promised that Russia would never give up control of the northern Caucasus, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

He said he expected Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev to play a decisive role in ending the armed conflict.

Russian forces and local police have been bombarding the rebels for 11 days with planes and heavy artillery.

The Russian Interior Ministry said on Monday that 600 insurgents had been killed.

The Islamic separatists took up positions in the mountains after crossing into Dagestan from neighbouring Chechnya on 7 August.

They say they have been joined by more Islamist volunteers from Chechnya and are strengthening their grip on the border.

The rebels said on Tuesday that they had gained control of another village in the mountains and killed 10 Russian soldiers in overnight fighting.

(Click here to see a map of the region)

A spokesman said they had seized the village of Tsibilta in the southern Botlikh region, bringing to 15 the number of villages they control.

He said they held another five towns in the Tsumada district to the south.

The insurgents were reported on Tuesday to have named a veteran of the Dagestani Islamic movement as head of their self-proclaimed government.

The pro-Chechen separatist Website Kavkaz-Tsentr said the rebels' joint command had charged Sirazhdin Ramazanov with forming a government.

'Russians not in Chechnya'

In Chechnya, reports of a Russian incursion into Chechen territory have been dismissed as a hoax.

The head of Chechnya's border and customs service, Khumid Dalayev, said a large column of Russian troops had established itself in the immediate vicinity of the border - but had so far not made any move.

Earlier, Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov said Russian troops had crossed into the north-western region of the breakaway republic.

Mr Dalayev said Mr Maskhadov's statement was "based on hoax reports planted by unknown persons on Chechen special service radio frequencies".

He said it was an attempt to inflame tension in the region.

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Relevant Stories

Thousands flee Dagestan fighting (16 Aug 99 | Europe)
Russia's army: Demoralised and ill-equipped (14 Aug 99 | Europe)
Russians pound Dagestan rebels (16 Aug 99 | Europe)
Analysis: Jihad or Russian conspiracy? (11 Aug 99 | Europe)
Dagestan rebels call in Chechen warlord (11 Aug 99 | Monitoring)
Shura statements on the web (10 Aug 99 | Monitoring)
Islamic roots in Dagestan (10 Aug 99 | Europe)
Analysis: Russia's fragile borders (08 Aug 99 | Europe)

Internet Links

CaspianNet: Dagestan Republic
Caucasian Club: Dagestan
Pro-rebel Kavkaz-Tsentr site (in Russian)
Dagestani Government (in Russian)

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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