"Konna is under our control this evening but we are still conducting mopping-up operations, " said Lt Col Diarra Kone, though he warned that some rebels might still be in the town.

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Depending on the wording of the motion, we could see some Labour rebels.

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An ominous echo of that came with the news, from Russian commanders, that some 500 rebels had returned to the ruined city.

ECONOMIST: Chechnya