Russian troops fire a grenade launcher during training at an army base in Dagestan, to prepare for more battles with the Islamic rebels   click here

August 21, 1999
Web posted at: 9:56 p.m. EDT (0156 GMT)

In this story: Yeltsin spokesman: 'No quick solution' Moscow claims advances against rebels Russia strikes rebels in Chechnya RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

MAKHACHKALA, Russia (CNN) -- A top Russian Muslim leader condemned an uprising by Islamic militants in Dagestan Saturday, after discussing the crisis with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"The gunmen who attacked Dagestan have committed a crime against their Muslim brethren," said Sheik Ravil Gainutdin, the chairman of Russia's council of muftis, or Islamic religious leaders.

The Itar-Tass news agency quoted Gainutdin as characterizing the meeting with Putin as "very fruitful."

"We agreed that it is necessary to limit the spread of weapons among the people of Dagestan and protect the peaceful population from getting sucked into war," he was quoted as saying.

Yeltsin spokesman: 'No quick solution'

Meanwhile, a Kremlin spokesman said Saturday that Russian President Boris Yeltsin is becoming increasingly concerned about the situation in Dagestan, expressing doubt that the uprising can be quickly put down.

Dmitry Yakushkin, speaking on Echo Moscow radio, said Yeltsin believes it is "impossible to expect a quick solution" to the uprising in the southern province.

Muslim guerrillas took up arms against Russia two weeks ago, declaring an independent Islamic state in the Caspian Sea region that borders the breakaway republic of Chechnya. Chechen warlords are aiding the Dagestani rebels.

Yakushkin said Yeltsin sees the two-week-old conflict as a "real threat to Russia's integrity ... and considers it necessary to do everything possible to halt the anti-government, terrorist acts of the armed bands."

The rebellion is Russia's most serious internal conflict since its disastrous 1994-1996 war in Chechnya.

Moscow claims advances against rebels

Yeltsin's fears were made public even as the Russian Defense Ministry claimed advances in its fight against the guerrillas.

The Defense Ministry claimed in a statement Saturday that its troops had killed at least 100 Dagestani guerrillas and recaptured strategic heights outside two villages that had been in rebel hands.

The Defense Ministry also said Saturday it had destroyed an ammunition depot and several military vehicles. The information could not be independently confirmed, nor did the rebels provide their own casualty count.

Russia is believed to have thousands of troops in Dagestan. But the army has made few inroads against the rebels, who know the mountainous terrain and are able to conceal themselves.

The ministry acknowledged Saturday that the rebels still control six villages.

Russia strikes rebels in Chechnya

Fighting broke out August 7, when Islamic guerrillas crossed into Dagestan from Chechnya and seized a number of villages. The rebels are believed to have about 1,200 fighters in Dagestan.

On Friday, Russian forces were reported to have attacked Islamic rebel units inside Chechnya, a move that raises the possibility of widening the conflict. The military said about 2,750 guerrillas are concentrated in Chechen areas near Dagestan.

Though still considered part of Russia, Chechnya effectively won independence in the conflict that ended in 1996. Chechnya declared a state of emergency Friday, and reservists were digging trenches along the border with Dagestan, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.

The militants also draw recruits from Muslims elsewhere in the former Soviet Union.

Correspondent Steve Harrigan, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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