CHECHEN GUNMEN REACH HOME

Chechen rebels finally arrived in their homeland and released the roughly 150 volunteers who had accompanied them as "human shields" against Russian attacks. With Russian troops in hot pursuit, the gunmen immediately fled into the nearby Caucasus Mountains. Although the Chechens had been promised safe passage home, Russian officials have a history of making such promises to terrorists and then reneging once hostages have been released. The Russians kept at least one part of their bargain with the gunmen, though: peace talks resumed today between the government and Chechen leader Jokhar Dudayev.