Russian dies in rebel ambush

Grozny - One Russian serviceman was killed and four were wounded yesterday when rebels ambushed a troop column in the Chechen capital Grozny, Interfax news agency said.

About 20 rebels attacked the convoy in Grozny's Zavodsky region at around midday, opening fire with automatic weapons and a grenade launcher before escaping in a car, it said. An armoured vehicle was destroyed.

Several Russian servicemen were also injured when rebels attacked a military column near a rebel stronghold in western Chechnya, the agency said. The attacks highlighted the problems facing Russian troops in Chechnya despite tighter security before a planned visit by President Boris Yeltsin. Reuter