Russia Shells Southern Chechnya, Denies Rebel Takeover

GROZNY, Russia — Russian jets and artillery shelled rebel positions Sunday in the south of the breakaway republic of Chechnya, and military officials denied reports that rebels had seized the mountain town of Nozhai-Yurt.

Col. Gen. Alexander Baranov, chief of staff for the Russian troops in Chechnya, said federal forces shelled suspected rebel locations near the mountain town of Tsentoroi, about 30 miles southeast of Grozny, the capital.

He dismissed reports about rebels seizing the town of Nozhai-Yurt in the same area.

Sergei V. Yastrzhembsky, the Kremlin spokesman on Chechnya, said that Russian troops were carrying out a search for rebels in the region and that some rebel commanders may be hiding out there.

The Interfax news agency, citing the headquarters of the combined federal forces in the North Caucasus, said earlier Sunday that up to 2,000 rebels had infiltrated Nozhai-Yurt, northeast of Tsentoroi, in small groups over the past several days. The rebels reportedly announced Saturday night that Nozhai-Yurt was under their control.

Meanwhile, reports of foul play marred voting in Russia’s presidential election Sunday in the war-ravaged republic.

The streets of Chechnya’s cities and towns were deserted, and only a small number of voters could be seen at the polls, contrasting with the high turnout reported by election officials.

One election official openly suggested that the vote results could be rigged in acting President Vladimir V. Putin’s favor.

“In any case, we will have to show Putin with a strong lead in our protocols,” said Shirvani Murtazov, an election official in Grozny.

Some Chechen refugees interviewed in the neighboring republic of Ingushetia reported cases of coercion by Russian troops.

“Soldiers were calling at homes and scaring people, saying they would rob them of all their belongings if they fail to cast ballots,” said Lida Saidova, 42, who fled the village of Orekhovo in the western Achkhoi-Martan region.

“They grabbed me, brought me to a house and ordered me to vote,” said Maka Khanchukayeva, 45, who fled Grozny. She said soldiers forced her to vote last week, even though the election wasn’t until Sunday.