Geneva, 28 March 2000 (RFE/RL) - The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says about 1,000 refugees are still fleeing Chechnya every week. Spokesman Kris Janowski said in Geneva that about 214,000 Chechen refugees are currently in the neighboring Russian republic of Ingushetia. Janowski said few are prepared to return to their home villages and towns.
In Chechnya, fighting continued today between Russian troops and Chechen rebels near the southeastern village of Tsenteroi. Few details are available about the clashes, but the Russian command has said new troops and equipment were being moved into the area. The command said aircraft and artillery also shelled positions in the Argun Gorge to the south of Grozny.