Moscow - Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin said Moscow would crush Chechen separatist rebels as generals said fresh clashes in Chechnya's southern mountains had killed 10 government soldiers.
Gen Valery Manilov, the army number two, said a battle between a Russian reconnaissance group and some 60 rebels erupted on Wednesday near the village of Serzhen-Yurt, killing 10 Russian military, including a lieutenant colonel. This was a provisional death toll.
