RUSSIA: CHECHNYA: REBEL LEADER IS DOUBTFUL ABOUT PEACE PROSPECTS

Russian/Nat Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev has told APTV he’s sceptical about the efforts of the Russian military and politicians to bring a halt to the war in Chechnya. He said he did not believe the Russians would back down over the issue of Chechen independence as they would lose face in the eyes of the world. The destruction in the Chechen capital, Grozny, is evident everywhere. Few buildings remain standing - their inhabitants are either holed up in basements or have fled the war-torn