RUSSIAN AVIATORS SAY CHECHENS HAVE STINGER MISSILES.

Pilotsin the Caucasus Special Border District said that Chechen militantshad fired Stinger missiles at several of their planes withoutbringing any of them down, Interfax reported July 31. An investigationconducted by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reportedlyfound that "the Chechen militants are not skilled enoughin handling these weapons." Meanwhile, CSBD officials toldDagestanskaya pravda July 21 that border guards there havestopped 650 border violators and seized 15,000 firearms, 130,000pieces of ammunition, and other contraband worth 70 billion rubles.The CSBD command itself is 30,000-men strong, has 260 pieces ofarmor, 50 frigates and other ships, as well as planes and helicopters.

Moscow Prosecutors Visit Journalist Who Interviewed Basayev.