GROZNY - Nine Russian soldiers were killed in Grozny yesterday, after the reported rushing of the rebel offensive here during the past week, the Interfax news agency said in Moscow.
Mr Ruslan Martago, spokesman for the pro Moscow Chechen government in Grozny, told AFP: "There are some snipers left in the city, opening fire mainly where there are Russian military posts or columns."
Chechen guerrillas in the south west of Chechnya meanwhile have threatened to kill military hostages if the bombardment of the village of Bamut continues. The deputy head of the Chechen government has said up to 300 Russian prisoners, most of them captured during last week's offensive in Grozny, were are now being held in and around Bamut, ITAR-TASS said. Russian army officials denied the figure.