Dagestan Russia Revolts

A shootout with Islamic militants at a police station left 14 Russian troops dead Monday, even as residents of the southern republic of Dagestan became increasingly angry that federal forces have failed to oust the rebels despite a month of fighting. The militants, seeking an independent Islamic state, have battled Russian troops since seizing several villages in Dagestan on Aug. 7. Government troops responded with air and ground attacks, pushing the rebels out of some areas.

President Boris N. Yeltsin cracked the whip in Moscow on Tuesday after Russia's generals were caught off guard by a new Islamic rebel onslaught in the southern republic of Dagestan. Chairing a meeting of his Security Council, Yeltsin described the rebels in Dagestan as degenerates and murderers and told his generals to crush them. Earlier, he had lashed out at the generals themselves for being unprepared for a devastating car bomb attack and a major new rebel advance over the weekend.

President Boris N. Yeltsin cracked the whip in Moscow on Tuesday after Russia's generals were caught off guard by a new Islamic rebel onslaught in the southern republic of Dagestan. Chairing a meeting of his Security Council, Yeltsin described the rebels in Dagestan as degenerates and murderers and told his generals to crush them. Earlier, he had lashed out at the generals themselves for being unprepared for a devastating car bomb attack and a major new rebel advance over the weekend.

A shootout with Islamic militants at a police station left 14 Russian troops dead Monday, even as residents of the southern republic of Dagestan became increasingly angry that federal forces have failed to oust the rebels despite a month of fighting. The militants, seeking an independent Islamic state, have battled Russian troops since seizing several villages in Dagestan on Aug. 7. Government troops responded with air and ground attacks, pushing the rebels out of some areas.