The Russian Defence Minister says plans have been prepared for a ground attack on Chechnya. Two hundred Russian armoured vehicles, backed by helicopter gunships, are reported to have joined Russian forces on the borders of the breakaway republic. Russia has carried out a fourth consecutive day of air raids on Islamic rebel strongholds in the capital, Grozny.
Moscow has stepped up air strikes against the North Caucasus republic but leaders have repeatedly steered clear of announcing a full-scale invasion of Chechnya, fearful of repeating Russia's ill-fated 1994-96 war with the separatists. "The main aim of all plans is to destroy the bandits," Russian news agencies quoted Sergeyev as telling journalists at a military hospital in Moscow. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Friday that commando raids against Chechnya could not be ruled out.
Russian officials have vowed to continue air raids against Chechnya until they have destroyed the fighters and bases that Moscow says they use in the breakaway republic to train rebels to make incursions and stage bomb blasts across Russia.
Russia closed the border between Chechnya and neighbouring Ingushetia late last night to stop Chechen refugees entering Ingushetia. Russia has said it will stick to "pinpoint attacks" on bases and other sites used by fighters, but Chechen officials say civilians have been killed in the raids.
