20:03, 30 September 2004

Maskhadov's presence among surrounded rebels unconfirmed

First Deputy Prime Minister of the Chechen Government Ramzan Kadyrov believes Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov to be among rebels who are being blocked off in the Nozhay-Yurt district of Chechnya. He stated the president of the unrecognized Republic of Ichkeria would be detained in the near future.

Clashes on the border between three districts in the south of Chechnya, namely the Nozhay-Yurt, Kurchaloy and Vedeno districts, have been going on for five days. Officers of security agencies have started to exchange fire with the rebels at least nine times since the operation began, a source in the Chechen military commandant's office said. According to security agencies, 30 rebels have been killed during the operation.

Nevertheless a source in the Chechen Interior Ministry said to the Caucasian Knot correspondent that now there is no reliable information confirming Aslan Maskhadov's presence among the surrounded rebels. "But the chances of it are rather good. At least one of his closest mates is in the blocked square," the officer added.

Author: Sultan Abubakarov, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot