Power agents continue searching militants in Chechen mountains

The special operation against members of the armed underground started on March 17 goes on in the high-mountainous Vedeno District of Chechnya. One of the militants liquidated there was identified as an Arabian mercenary and one of militants' leaders; however, earlier the reports of power agencies did not mention the name of Abu Khaled.

"The actions in the Vedeno District against the bandit grouping detected there on March 17 continue. Searches are difficult because of weather conditions and almost impassable mountain-woody area. Still, the fighters of special units of the local Ministry of Internal Affairs and Interior Troops are screening the vicinities and continue chasing the rests of the gang," a source from the Chechen militia told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, in total six members of the grouping, commanded by Arabian mercenaries to the Yasir and Mukhannad, were liquidated. "A notorious terrorist Aby Khaled was identified among the casualties, a native of one of Near East countries. According to operative data, he had been for 13 years in the territory of Chechnya training young terrorists and heading Dokku Umarov's counter-intelligence," said the source.

Besides, Chechen power agents assert that the liquidated Abu Khaled was also the financier of the now pursued grouping and in charge of guarding the militants' leader Dokku Umarov.

Meanwhile, local observers note that until recently Abu Khaled's name has not appeared in reports of local power agents. "It is remarkable that our power agents announce that this or that liquidated militant was an 'Amir', 'instructor', 'organizer of terror acts', 'financier', 'head of counter-intelligence', 'security boss' and so on, as a rule, only after they are liquidated," one of local observers said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

In his opinion, both local and Russian power agents often announce liquidated members of illegal armed formations to be essential figures in order to make their victories weightier.