Russia: March 31, 2000

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Russian losses in the Chechen war have reached 2,036 dead. An accurate count of rebel and civilian losses is impossible to make. The Russians say there are at least 25,000 armed Chechens, not all of whom are fighting for the rebels. The province is still torn apart by factional and clan loyalties. In most of the villages taken by the Russians, the local leadership expelled the rebels. In other cases, the rebels were strong enough to force the force the locals to at least stay neutral. A major problem for the Russians is that it is difficult to tell if a Chechen is a rebel, a loyalist or neutral.