MOSCOW WARNS CIVILIANS TO LEAVE CHECHEN CAPITAL.

As federal forces tighten their grip on the Chechen capital of Djohar, federal authorities yesterday warned civilians to leave the city (Russian sources, November 23). Russia’s information blockade means that no reliable information is available about life within the blockade, but some 5,000-6,000 militants are believed to be preparing to defend Djohar against an anticipated Russian attack. Federal forces are keeping open a narrow exit route to the north of the city, but are slowly tightening their grasp on the rest of it, of which some 98 percent is now said to be encircled. Meanwhile, the bombardment continues of Djohar, the village of Gamut to the southwest of the capital, and the town of Urus-Martan to the south.

Russia continues to insist that it cannot open negotiations over a political solution because it cannot identify a sufficiently authoritative interlocutor within the Chechen leadership. Yesterday one of those whose candidacy Moscow may be considering for the post of leader of an as yet unformed, pro-Moscow, puppet government flew to the North Caucasus. Beslan Gantemirov, former mayor of Grozny [now Djohar] and a leading opponent of Chechnya’s first president, Dzhokhar Dudaev, has spoken of his plans to set up a civil defense form in Chechnya and to bring the republic back into harmony with Russia. Gantemirov was pardoned only last week by President Yeltsin and released from prison where he had been serving a six-year sentence for embezzlement (Russian Public TV [ORT], November 23). He is unlikely to command support among the militants.

RUSSIAN FORCES OPEN FIRE ON STAFF OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN CHECHNYA…