"REAL WAR" IN CHECHNYA AS DUMA VOICES CONCERN.

Russian forces over the weekend airbombed and shelled Chechen positions and villages — mainly in Shatoy, Vedeno, and Nozhay-Yurt districts. A Russian command spokesman in Grozny said that in Shatoy district a "real war" is underway. For the first time since the resumption of Russian military operations, Russian forces registered serious losses — at least 15 soldiers killed over the weekend — and also lost a helicopter. The losses would seem to indicate that Chechen forces are implementing their leadership’s July 18 decisions to offer a limited response to Russian attacks.

In Moscow, the Duma voted by a large margin in favor of a resolution submitted by democratic deputies, criticizing the resumption of military operations and requiring Russia’s Security Council to discuss the situation at a nationally televised session with the participation of Chechen resistance leaders. (Russian and western agencies, July 19 through 21)

Russia Relaxes Rules for Foreign Investors.