Chechens Abandoning City, Russians Claim

Chechen fighters reportedly were abandoning their last stronghold on the plains of the breakaway republic Thursday after Russian forces seized a key rebel-held town.

The Russian military command said Gudermes, 22 miles east of the Chechen capital of Grozny, was taken with little fighting.

“A lot of military hardware and weapons were seized,” the military press center reported.

Gudermes was under full Russian control by Thursday afternoon, it said. Movladi Udugov, a spokesman for Chechen rebel forces, denied the Russian claim and said separatists still controlled the town.

On Wednesday, both sides reported fierce fighting in and around Gudermes.