(12 Feb 1997) T/I: 11:21:46
Separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov vowed to consolidate Chechnya's independence from Russia on Wednesday (12/2) as he was sworn in as president of the breakaway republic.
Maskhadov commanded the Chechen forces in their 21-month war to drive out Russian troops sent to restore Moscow's rule.
Russian Security Council Secretary Ivan Rybkin attended the ceremony, as did his predecessor Alexander Lebed, who negotiated the peace accord ending the war last August but was later sacked by President Boris Yeltsin.
Outside the hall, about 1,000 Chechen fighters swore their loyalty to
Maskhadov, then fired a thunderous volley of automatic weapons fire in the air for about 10 minutes, the traditional Chechen way to celebrate.
SHOWS:
GROZNY, CHECHNYA. 12 FEBRUARY, 1997
0.00 WS ext building;
0.04 MS President Ruslan Aushev of Ingushetia;
0.09 MS soldier on guard duty in hall;
0.14 MS Aushev setaed next to Alexander Lebed;
0.19 WS stage;
0.22 MS Aslan Maskhadov on stage;
0.27 MS crowd chanting "Allah Akbar";
0.29 MS Maskhadov speaking;
0.40 CUTAWAY camera and soldiers;
0.43 MS presser;
0.46 SOT Alexander Lebed (Russian) "I began the process and I'm glad it ended this way.";
0.55 MS soldiers outside;
0.59 MS Maskhadov saluting;
1.03 MS soldiers firing;
1.07 WS soldiers firing in air;
1.12 VISION ENDS
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