Russia: April 27, 2000

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Another ten soldiers were killed in a Chechen ambush by rebels. Dismayed at fighting the Chechen rebels for months, the government has been seeking a Chechen faction with the clout to sign a ceasefire and make it stick. Not much luck so far, as the various Chechen groups will sort of unite to fight non-Chechens, but will return to crime and feuds with other Chechens as soon as the foreigners are gone.  Meanwhile, some 40 percent of Russian defense industries are on the brink of bankruptcy after a decade of few contracts and largely failed attempts to convert to non-military work.