Some 2,000 civilians have fled the war-torn Russian republic of Chechnya after receiving warnings from Chechen fighters of renewed large-scale attacks to mark Chechen anniversaries on Sunday.
Locals from the capital Grozny and the cities of Gudermes, Argun, Shali and Urus-Martan crossed the border late Saturday into neighboring republic Ingushetia, where thousands of Chechens are already taking refuge.
According to Russian sources, locals had received leaflets advising them to leave their homes in anticipation of "armed actions against Russian bases" to commemorate Chechen army day and the 1996 rebel retaking of Grozny on Sunday.
The leaflets also stated that the attacks would continue on Monday, the anniversary of last year's rebel incursion into Dagestan, which served as the flashpoint for the current conflict.
Chechen separatist President Aslan Maskhadov's chief commander in Grozny said in a statement obtained by AFP that at least 15 federal checkpoints and several bases would be targeted on Sunday.
"We will wear them down until either I am dead or the last Russian soldier leaves the republic," said the statement from Isa Munayev, who controls a 400-strong Chechen army.
"This offensive will be carried out in the name of Lecha Dudayev," he added.
Dudayev was the former mayor of Grozny killed by Russian forces in January. He was also the nephew of the late separatist president Dzhokar Dudayev.
However, Maskhadov's press centre told AFP Saturday that the Chechen army was not so foolish as to carry out large-scale military attacks with advance notice.
"Nothing major will happen this weekend, just a few salutes to the army, mainly in the south of the republic and maybe a few checkpoints will be shot at," said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, the deputy president of the separatist Chechen administration, Vakha Arsanov, stressed on the rebels' website that Chechen actions were never tied to certain dates.
"That is a Russian tradition, not Muslim," he said.
The Russian military seemed to be taking the warnings seriously, reinforcing Grozny and restricting access only to those registered in the capital.
Generals had earlier admitted that some 500 rebels were permanently residing there. However, police urged citizens not to leave the city -- SLEPTSOVSK, Russia (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
