KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The Russian military claims it's taken up positions around a strategic city square in the center of Grozny. Russian troops have been struggling against Chechen rebel fighters for a month to seize the capital, while artillery pounded Grozny from all sides. CNN's Steve Harrigan reports Russian troops seized some high rise buildings, forcing snipers to flee.</s>STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The order to Private Sidirov (ph) is simple, get rid of the building in front of you. With a yes, sir, Sidirov runs to his tank and from point blank range begins his work. Soon the apartment building is in flames. But from somewhere in the ruins, shots continue to ring out. (on camera): One of the biggest factors holding up the Russian advance is snipers. Right now the Russians have called in artillery to drive out a sniper from the buildings behind me. (voice-over): Tanks follow the artillery, infantry follows the tanks. The buildings are destroyed, but there is no sign of the rebels. There must have been 60 or 70 of them, he says, judging from the beds. They even had time to pack all their dishes before they left. The rebels have left something behind, a booby trapped garage. It exploded in flames when opened by Russian soldiers. Two were badly burned. A third was buried alive. The struggle here now is to recover the dead body. Steve Harrigan, CNN, Grozny, Chechnya.
Russian Military Claims Strategic Victory in Grozny