11:31, 15 November 2008

President of Chechnya heads counterterrorist operation

On November 14, President of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov took command of the special operation intended to search militants in the Kurchaloy and Nozhai-Yurt Districts, and personally designed its plan. The operation had lasted till late at night, but no militants were found.

"In the course of many hours of operative actions, no traces of participants in illegal armed formations (IAFs) were found," runs the message of the press service of the president and the government of the republic.

"The fact that we have found no traces of militants' formations is practical evidence that very few of them remain in the republic. There are small groups which are of no serious threat to the society. Nevertheless, the tough fight on them is a must; and it's necessary to oppose their illegal actions and occasional raids on law enforcement bodies," the press service quotes Kadyrov's words.

As he said, former IAF members are now getting back to peaceful life. It means that residents of Chechnya have lost trust to IAF leaders, Mr Kadyrov assures.