MOSCOW, April 11 (AFP) - The security situation in Chechnya's capital Grozny "is not getting better, but worse," the Russian minister responsible for the breakaway republic was quoted as saying Wednesday by RIA Novosti.

"The city is out of control at nighttime, and during the day the security forces have difficulty keeping the situation under control," Vladimir Yelagin said in remarks that contrast sharply with more optimistic statements emanating from the Kremlin.

President Vladimir Putin announced in January that the Russian army would begin to pull troops out of the war-torn republic but the coming of spring has prompted fears that Chechen rebels could be planning a new offensive.

Moscow launched its "anti-terrorism" campaign in the North Caucasus republic in October 1999 but despite retaking Grozny over a year ago has so far been unable to defeat the Islamic separatist rebels.

Yelagin, who is in charge of socio-economic development in Chechnya, said the republic would need at least five to seven years to recover from the devastation caused by two successive wars.

Copyright © 2001 Agence France-Presse