Chechen Capital Relatively Quiet as Truce Talks Continue

GROZNY, Russia — Residents of the battered Chechen capital had one of the quietest days in nearly two weeks Sunday, as Russian and rebel forces tried to avoid fighting as their commanders resumed cease-fire talks.

However, outside Grozny, the rebels downed a helicopter transporting food. Two crew members were killed and two were wounded, the Russian command said.

Brief firefights also erupted in Grozny during the day, and earlier in the morning Russian artillery shells pounded the city.

Rebel fighters, who control most of downtown Grozny with about 2,000 men, said the Russians made attempts before dawn to resupply troops surrounded in isolated strongholds. The Russians were beaten back and suffered heavy casualties, they said.

The commander of Russia’s interior troops in Chechnya, Col. Gen. Anatoly Shkirko, said 26 rebels were killed and 18 were captured in one clash Saturday, Interfax news agency reported.

The recent separatist offensive on Grozny began Aug. 6, and hundreds of Russian soldiers were killed in some of the worst fighting since troops were sent into Chechnya 20 months ago to end its bid for independence.

Deputies of the Russian army and Chechen separatist commanders met Sunday for what separatist spokesman Movladi Udugov called a discussion on “purely technical matters” relating to the truce agreed upon Saturday.