Take That, Boris!

MOSCOW: Chechen Rebels today released 45 Dagestani hostages taken during the January 9th attack on the village of Kizlyar. The Chechens may still hold as many as 24 Russian policemen captured during the raid in addition to 30 Russian power plant workers who were seized in Grozny last week. Unintimidated by Russian threats to "unconditionally eliminate" Chechen leader Jokar Dudayev, the rebels are holding the remainder of the hostages, demanding that the Russian government release the bodies of fighters killed during the assault. Chechen morale has risen dramatically since the strike into Dagestan, despite Yeltsin's tough talk.