Please could you find out if there is unequivocal evidence that the
Russian Security Services have committed atrocities against
Chechnyan civilians over the last 10 years. Please give some
examples including dates the atrocities were committed.

By atrocities I mean military/secret police actions that resulted in
the intentional or accidental deaths of one more Chechnyans civilians
who were known not to be involved in terrorist groups fighting against
Russia.

I'm particularly interested in allegations that the Russian army fired
live rounds from tanks directly into residential tower blocks in
Grozni knowing that civilians where in the buildings when they opened
fire.

"CHECHNYA: Renewed Catastrophe (Focus on Human Rights Violations)"
http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/russia/chechnya/

"Armed Conflict Report 2000 - Russia"
http://www.ploughshares.ca/CONTENT/ACR/ACR00/ACR00-Russia.html

"Amnesty International - Campaigns - Russia campaign - Chechnya ?
human rights under attack"
http://www.amnesty.org/russia/chechnya.html

"Chechnya war portal"
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/chechnya.htm

Chechan Timeline
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chechnyatime1.html


1995 -10,000 Russian troops occupy Grozny. *(see Russian Roulette link)
Dudayev killed by Russian rocket. Total Russian force numbers 45,000.
Chechens takes hostages.


1996 - Chechens launch major counteroffensive, 5,000 troops invade
Grozny. Unwilling to use maximum force and destroy Grozny to defeat
rebels, Russians agree to ceasefire. Yeltsin orders troops withdrawn
from Chechnya. Russian military humiliated. 70,000 casualties on all
sides.


1997 - Chechnya won't accept Moscow's authority. Aslan Maskhadov
elected Chechen president. Name of capital changed from the Russian
Grozny, to the Chechen Djohar. Lawlessness in Chechnya continues


* Russian Roulette
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/99world1.html#russia

Do the roots of the conflict pre-date the Czarist expansion into the
Caucasus in the early 1700s and subsequent consolidation and
annexation  under Catherine the Great?

http://www.time.com/time/europe/chechnyatrail/chechnyatrail.html

OBL wasn't born yet.