Rebels wanted

Law enforcement / security agencies detained five active members of illegal armed formations in various regions in Chechnya yesterday, the republican Ministry of Internal Affairs says.

Two of the detainees are claimed to be members of the Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev's unit. Operations to detain rebels were carried out in both southern areas considered to be supportive of the resistance and quieter northern areas.

"One of the rebels was detained as a result of some investigative activities in Avtury, Shali district (in the southeast of the republic). One rebel was detained in Roshni-Chu, Urus-Martan district, and one in Yandi-Kotar, Achkhoi-Martan district, in the southwest of Chechnya. Police officers seized a Kalashnikov submachine gun and several magazines with cartridges in the latter's house," an officer at the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs told Caucasian Knot.

The two remaining members of illegal armed groups were arrested in the north of Chechnya. A rebel suspected of committing a number of grave crimes against local residents was detained in Kalinovskaia, Naruskaia district. A young man considered to be involved in attacks on the military and law enforcement agents was detained in Meken-Yurt, Nadterechnaia district. The detainees are all young people under 30, the Internal Affairs Ministry officer says.

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