Moscow, March 15 (RFE/RL) - The Russian military command in Chechnya says that separatist fighters have cancelled a new attack on the capital Grozny, which was expected to start this morning.
But our correspondent quotes a senior Russian Defence Ministry official (unnamed) as saying that Russian troops in Grozny are still on high alert.
Meanwhile, the Russian command says nine Russian soldiers were wounded during new clashes overnight in Chechnya.
Sporadic fighting was reported overnight in Grozny. But it is unclear whether Russian troops are continuing an assault on the Chechen stronghold of Bamut and two nearby villages, Orekhovo and Stary Achkoi.
The Interfax news agency quotes a representative of the Russian command as saying that Federal troops have ended the assault. But our correspondent at the scene could not confirm the report.
In Moscow, Russian President Boris Yeltsin's security council is scheduled to meet today to discuss a peace plan for the separatist region.
Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin yesterday said the plan, about which few details are known, is being "seriously amended." He did not elaborate.