BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In the breakaway republic of Chechnya, now, Russian troops say their bid to seize Grozny is now gaining momentum. A growing number of Chechen rebels have fled the embattled capitol, and now Russian troops are said to be closing in on the few fighters that still remain in the city center. CNN's Steve Harrigan is there with more.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the village mosque in Alkhan-Kala, a Chechen sniper fights his last battle. His fellow rebels have chosen a different route: surrender to the Russian army. These Chechens tried and failed to fight their way out of the capital, Grozny, which is surrounded by Russian forces. Some were wounded in the fighting, others while crossing a mine field. "Where are you taking them," a woman from the village asks. "We're taking them to the hospital," a Russian soldier laughs. "They will get the best treatment." In fact, there is little sense that the fight has ended. One soldier steps on the wounded foot of a rebel, who makes the mistake of saying he took his coat from a dead Russian soldier. The Chechen is pulled away as an officer shouts, "get rid of him." The others remain frozen at gunpoint. Some are bound, hand in foot. As their wounds bleed, the Russians attend to their own. "Bear it," is the stoic advice from medics to a young Russian who stepped on a land mine. While the wounded Russians are evacuated by helicopter, the heavily-armed soldiers begin what they call a cleaning operation. They find machine guns, antitank grenade launchers, sniper rifles. "They all say they are innocent civilians," this soldier says. "What would innocent civilians be doing with all of these weapons?" They also find terrified women and children. With the young men taken away, these, along with the old, are the only ones left in Alkhan-Kala. Steve Harrigan, CNN, Grozny, Chechnya.
Chechen Rebels Surrender to Growing Momentum of Russian Army