CHECHNYA: GUDERMES: RUSSIA/CHECHNYA CONFLICT

Russian/Nat After nearly three months of its military onslaught against Chechnya, the Russian army claims it has a firm grip on the rebel republic and is beginning to restore a semblance of normal life. That was the message on Saturday from troops and commanders in Gudermes, Chechnya’s second city, where the Russian army sought to show visiting foreign journalists that Moscow is winning the war. So far the Russian guns pounding Chechen positions every day have met little resistance. In this seco