CHECHNYA: RUSSIAN PARATROOPERS ENTER ITUM-KALINSKY

Russian/Nat In a bid to cut off the last passage in and out of Chechnya, Russian paratroopers have entered the Chechen region of Itum-Kalinsky along the border with Georgia. Chechen rebels acknowledged on Saturday that the Russians had blocked a key road leading south to neighbouring Georgia - the only foreign country bordering Chechnya. The blockade could make it more difficult for rebels to ferry weapons and other supplies, although so far they have easily bypassed Russian checkpoints. This is the Itum-Kalinsky region in Chechnya, on the border with Georgia. As Russian paratroopers descend into this valley, Chechen fighters take up positions in the hills. The Russian Air Force has also carried out heavy attacks on this mountainous area. Refugees, many of them from Grozny, have gathered in this mountainous region. The Russians eased their airstrikes and artillery barrages on Grozny earlier in the week, and said civilians should leave or risk being killed. But they have resumed the attacks in recent days in a bid to soften the rebels' resistance. According to the Russian Emergency Situations Minister, between 8-thousand and 35-thousand civilians still remain in Grozny. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "The Russian Army is killing us. They are throwing bombs and rockets on the heads of innocent people. We were living in a school for a month where there were no (Chechen fighters) and they bombed us anyway. We escaped from there, but half the people had to stay because there was not enough transport." SUPER CAPTION: Fatima, Refugee from Grozny Meanwhile, Chechen militants claim to have fought off Russian attempts to take strategic heights on the edge of Grozny on Saturday, as Russian troops continue to test rebel defences around the Chechen capital. Rebel warlord Khamzat Gelayev said his fighters had repelled the attack, killing a large number of Russian soldiers. He gave no indication of casualties on the Chechen side. The Russian forces have launched several attacks on the heights, but have had to retreat every time after suffering losses. Russian troops also attacked from the northwest and the east, but apparently failed to seize ground anywhere, facing fierce resistance from the several thousand rebels entrenched in Grozny. Western governments and international human rights groups have criticised Russia for what they call the indiscriminate use of force in Chechnya and urged Moscow to stop bombing Grozny to allow safe passage for civilians. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia would press home its attack against the rebels despite Western criticism. Rebel chief of staff Mumadi Saidayev said Russian aircraft had intensified raids on southern Chechen villages. More than 250-thousand Chechens have fled the territory since the fighting began, most taking refuge in the neighbouring Russian region of Ingushetia. Some 45-thousand have returned to parts of Chechnya occupied by the Russian troops, the military command said on Saturday. Russian authorities are trying to get more to return, but many refugees say they have nowhere to go. Their homes have been destroyed and their food stores and other possessions looted. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1937ff174cbdbb46ed1005de1c38c9a4 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork