CHECHEN DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE.

CHECHEN DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE.

The mass demonstration for Chechen independence continued in central Grozny for the fifth consecutive day yesterday despite threats by the Russian command and Moscow-installed authorities to disperse it by force. Demonstrators have erected a tent city in front of the destroyed presidential palace, maintaining a round-the-clock presence in the central square. Russian troops have isolated the demonstrators by means of two concentric cordons, one blocking access to Grozny from the countryside and another surrounding the central square itself. Pro-independence and pro-Dudayev demonstrations also were reported in recent days from Shatoy (for six consecutive days), Gudermes, Argun, Sernovodsk, Shali, and Achkhoy-Martan. (6)

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