Dniestrian soldiers before being released, said Moldova government spokesman Vasily Shova. Shova said the Trans-Dniestrian troopers then used axes and other tools to disassemble and remove more than twenty thousand dollars' worth of communications equipment owned by the Moldovan state telephone company Moldetelekom. The troopers evacuated the village before Moldovan troops or Russian peacekeeper troops stationed in the region were able to respond. Two Moldovan policemen were detained under guard for the duration of the assault, but released once the Trans-Dniestrians finished removing the communications equipment, the report said. The assault left Vasilevka's villagers without telephone communications, the report said. Trans-Dniestrian soldiers were manning checkpoints on the three roads connecting the village with the rest of the country, and were blocking all traffic, Shova said. --More 2301 Local Time 2001 GMT
