GROZNY - Skirmishes were reported yesterday between Chechen rebels and Russian troops, just a day before the start of a scheduled ceasefire and 17 days before Russia's presidential election.
Meanwhile, the Moscow in stalled Chechen leader, Mr Doku Zavgayev, described the separatist chief, Mr Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, who signed the truce, as a "bandit".
