MOSCOW. Dec 11: Moscow today said It was opening several corridors to evacuate the rebel Chechen capital Grozny, effectively putting back its expiring ultimatum to inhabitants to leave or be annihilated, reports AFP.
Russia's Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu left early Saturday to personally supervise the evacuation on the orders of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Russian media reported.
Russian NTV television said he would supervise the evacuation through a corridor opened Saturday morning south of the capital at Chernorechy. in the direction of Alkhan-Yurt and to the west towards Ingushetia, via the Rostov-Baku road.
General Valery Manilov, number two in the Russian army command, told NTV that
"several corridors" would be opened to evacuate various points of the capital "where there are concentrations' of people wanting to leave the city.”
We can guarantee the safety and a proper reception for all people wanting to leave Grozny." the general said, reiterating that as well as civilians, defecting rebel fighters would also be welcome if they had not committed major crimes.
Around 40.000 people, rebels and civilians, including women, elderly people and children, are believed still aed in the capital of the away republic.
According to the public ORT television channel, by Saturday fewer than 200 people had taken advantage of the only
safe corridor" until then, established by Russian federal forces at Piervosmaiskaya. a western suburb of Grozny.
The Russian military has charged the Chechen rebels with holding civilians in Grozny against their will and using them as human shields, a charge the Chechen authorities have denied.
On Monday the Russian army dropped leaflets over Grozny telling residents to flee by Saturday or be considered "terrorists" and face a massive aerial and artillery onslaught.
This prompted international outrage. But on Friday Russia Indicated that it was prepared to ease its ultimatum, saying civilians would still be allowed to leave after the expiry of the deadline.
Meanwhile General Manilov
said a column of Chechen fighters. including several warlords, had been wiped out near Shatoi. in southern Chechnya, on Thursday.
"A column of rebel chiefs were bombed and completely destroyed." he said, adding that federal forces were trying to establish exactly which rebel leaders had been killed in the attack.
Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev and an Islamist warlord of Arab origin known as Khattab head Moscow’s wanted list.
Russia revealed Friday that it was In secret peace talks with Chechen leaders but said Grozny had not accepted Russian conditions for a political solution to the three-month war.