Efforts to search for Maskhadov, Basayev redoubled

After the developments in the North Osetian town of Beslan, officers of Chechen security agencies have redoubled their efforts to establish the whereabouts and capture separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov and notorious field commander Shamil Basayev. "Both the terrorist leaders are reported to stay in Chechnya now. After the developments in Beslan, the decision was made to redouble efforts to neutralize them," a Chechen police officer said to the Caucasian Knot correspondent. In his words, over one thousand Chechen police officers, not to mention officers of other departments, are involved in the operation to search for Maskhadov and Basayev. "There is an instruction to take Maskhadov and Basayev alive. However officers are allowed to return fire if they offer armed resistance," the source specified.

The Caucasian Knot correspondent has learnt from confidential sources that after the terror attack in Beslan, Ramzan Kadyrov and Sulim Yamadayev (commander of the Russian Defense Ministry's special operations battalion Vostok) swore to destroy Maskhadov and Basayev. Meanwhile, many people in Chechnya believe the officers of Chechen security agencies aim at receiving a reward for Maskhadov and Basayev's heads. (Earlier, the Federal Security Service (FSB) declared the one who would show Shamil Basayev's whereabouts would receive $10 million.)