Moscow - Chechen rebels claimed yesterday to have ambushed a Russian military column moving through a southern district of the separatist republic, killing dozens of federal troops.
Mr Movladi Udugov, a rebel official close to field commanders Shamil Basayev and Khattab, said the rebels struck at 5.00 p.m. (2 p.m. Irish time) near the settlement of Shu-Ani in the southern Nozhai-Yurt district.