RUSSIAN TROOPS HALT CHECHEN CONVOY IN DAGESTAN.

Russian troops yesterday halted a convoy of buses and trucks carrying approximately 200 Chechen fighters and some 160 hostages before it crossed the Dagestani border into Chechnya. The convoy was stopped midday in the Dagestani village of Pervomaiskaya, now surrounded by Russian army troops. Chechen fighters released Dagestani officials who had volunteered to accompany the convoy, but reportedly threatened to shoot the hostages, seized two days ago in Kizlyar, if the convoy was not allowed to enter Chechnya. The fighters were reported to have occupied several houses in the town. (1)

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