LEBED RETURNS TO CHECHNYA.

Russian national security adviser Aleksandr Lebed returned to Chechnya today, five days after signing the Khasavyurt peace accords with Chechen military leader Aslan Maskhadov. On arriving in Grozny, Lebed said he had come to ensure implementation of the provisions of the peace agreement, including the withdrawal of federal troops and the exchange of prisoners. Meanwhile, Maskhadov has banned the rally planned for tomorrow to mark Chechnya’s independence day. He said he had done so at Lebed’s request, since Lebed did not want to give his opponents in Moscow any opportunity to criticize the peace accords. (Itar-Tass, Western agencies, September 5)

Russian Army Hemorrhaging Officers.