Posted on 05/24/2004 11:03:54 AM PDT by knighthawk
Russia has claimed that its troops have killed two rebel commanders who organised the assassination of the pro-Moscow Chechen leader Akhmad Kadyrov in the separatist republic of Chechnya.
Moscow did not make it clear how it knew the two Chechens were involved in the attack, which has complicated Russian efforts to end a war launched by President Vladimir Putin in October 1999 and has since degenerated into guerrilla warfare.
"We have liquidated the two heads of a rebel group that organised the terrorist attack in the city of Grozny, in the Dinamo stadium, on May 9," said Ilya Shabalkin, a top spokesman for Russia's military operations in Chechnya.
"At this time... we are continuing our hunt for other members of the group that also took part in this attack," he said.
The assassination of Mr Kadyrov - in which a landmine blew up underneath him as he was commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany - has been claimed by top separatist commander Shamil Basayev.
The warlord, a menace to Russia since the first, 1994-96 Chechen war for independence, was blamed by Moscow for staging bombing attacks on Russian apartment blocks that provoked the second war.
The rebel Internet site Kavkaz Centre appeared to brush aside claims that the rebels killed were responsible in the attack, and it is impossible to independently confirm if the Russian statement is true.
"The occupiers... have not clarified how they know that these were the Mujahedin fighters - out of the hundreds who operate in Dzhohhar [the separatists' name for the capital Grozny], were the ones who successfully organised the successful attack to eliminate Kadyrov," the separatist report said.
Elections to replace Mr Kadyrov have been set for October 29, although no candidate has yet officially emerged in a race that Moscow analysts fear may be mired by violence.
The rebels have made an official statement that they may forward their own candidate in the race - another direct challenge to Putin's claim that Moscow has managed to stamp its control over the Caucasus region.
The assassination of Mr Kadyrov - a former mufti and Chechen rebel who switched sides to Moscow in the second war, but whose son Ramzan, 27, runs a fearsome private force that scares not only the locals but also the Russian troops - has already led to new violence.
Moscow has named Ramzan as deputy head of the Chechen government in apparent hope that he could keep control over the republic, with Moscow having few candidates it can rely on to run the republic.
But a firefight between Russian interior ministry troops and Moscow-recruited Chechen police at one of the checkpoints that dot the republic seems evidence that Moscow's worries are coming true.
The incident occurred late Sunday when the federal soldiers on duty at a checkpoint outside Katar-Yurt, east of Grozny, ordered the driver of a fuel tanker to stop.
But he refused and the occupants of a car accompanying the fuel tanker - whom it later emerged were pro-Moscow Chechen policemen - opened fire with automatic weapons, the local Achkhoi-Martan region's police chief, Sherip Kurayev, told AFP.
In the ensuing gun battle, two of the pro-Moscow Chechen policemen died and another one of them was wounded.
A Russian soldier was killed and three others including an officer were hospitalised with serious wounds, the police chief said.
Oil remains one of the main natural resources in Chechnya, although the industry now stands in ruins following two brutal wars between rebels and Russian troops in the past 10 years.
Ping
"We have liquidated the two heads of a rebel group that organised the terrorist attack in the city of Grozny, in the Dinamo stadium, on May 9," said Ilya Shabalkin, a top spokesman for Russia's military operations in Chechnya.
“Liquidated” is such a great word.
Ping
COMMANDOS KILL 2 WARLORDS
GROZNY, May 24 (RIA Novosti) - Commandos killed two warlords linked to the May 9 terrorist blasts at Grozny's Dynamo stadium, which killed Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov and six more people, Ilya Shabalkin, a spokesman for the Regional Operations Headquarters for the Anti-Terrorist Operation in the North Caucasus (ROSh), said on Monday.
Mr. Shabalkin said the militants had also been involved in staging an act of terrorism against policemen and federal servicemen not far from the Alkhan Yurt village in Chechnya's Grozny district.
"The militants were uncovered during searches at Grozny's south-west outskirts. Law enforcers encountered a group of five militants. When offered to surrender, the militants opened fire and attempted to escape," said Mr. Shabalkin.
"Three bandits were killed in the skirmish, the other two escaped. Two federal servicemen received light injuries," added Mr. Shabalkin.
One of the killed militants was identified as 24-year-old Said-Emin Elikhanov, who led a militant group, another as Taus Udayev, 26, emir of the Wahhabi Jamaat (society) of Chechnya's Urus Martan district.
Three AK submachine guns with cartridges in their magazines, 4 hand grenades, an improvised explosive device and some 500 cartridges were found on the scene, according to Mr. Shabalkin.
Elikhanov was the last warlord who took the position of commander of what is known as "Ichkeria's Islamic Regiment," according to ROSh.
Shamil Basayev appointed Elikhanov in charge of the Jamaat when his predecessor Tazabayev was killed in February 2004. He also supervised groups dealing in Grozny and nearby villages. Elikhanov was known for his mercilessness. Separatists arrested earlier confessed that he had killed the members of his group suspected of plans to leave the group.
Elikhanov took part in the summer 2002 attack on policemen at Grozny's Central Market. In March 2003, he perpetrated the murder of policemen from Oktyabrsky interior department, while in October 2003, he set off an improvised bomb, which wounded policemen from Grozny's Zavodsky district.
Udayev was a member of the Basayev-led group who also masterminded and perpetrated terrorist acts, among them near the village of Alkhan Yurt near the Rostov-Baku road.
http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=4355771&startrow=1&date=2004-05-24&do_alert=0
The Russians don't worry about polls or media reports, or torture of prisoners-- they simply kill their opponents. Seems to keep the terrorists under some control. We have far too many crying libs here to really run the terrorists into oblivion.
The more they kill, the less we have to worry about. I only wish the Russian would see it the same way in Iraq and Afghanistan...
"We have liquidated the two heads of a rebel group that organised the terrorist attack in the city of Grozny,..."
^^^
Good! Kill them all.
"I only wish the Russian would see it the same way in Iraq and Afghanistan..."
They probably would if the Administration would stop giving them a hard time about Chechnya. Funny how hypocritical Washington can be to Russia and Israel when it comes to them dealing with their Muslim terrorists.
Because unlike Russia, Israel actually listen to complaints from rest of the world. All Israel must do is Fait Accompli and clear out all islamic pali from all lands...do it fast and hard and who is to complain? Just ignore what others then say...and go on.
Who say they don't. Most Russian hate Arabs and Russia actively help US in Afghanistan...this after Bush stop Putin (through pressure of economics and UN) from bombing of Taliban in spring 2001...what mistake by Bush...funny US media forget that episode. Iraq was about 2 thing: 1. monies...US should buy Russian mark on Iraq...consider it 9 billion when US ready to give Turkey...for right of passage $30 billion. and 2. US love fest with Saudies...if US government go to rehad to get off crack of petro dollars and start real war on terror not the farse of today, then Saudies number one target...they sponsor with men and guns Chechins.
The more they kill, the less we have to worry about. I only wish the Russian would see it the same way in Iraq and Afghanistan...
At least they were for the invasion of Afghanistan. They were already supporting Northren Alliance for years and they offered to share information since their own war there. They were having a hard time keeping opium and terrorists out. And recently Special Forces with Pakis killed bunches of Chechens who were in Afganistan to train at terrorist camps to kill Americans and Russians. Russia was glad for that!
They probably would if the Administration would stop giving them a hard time about Chechnya. Funny how hypocritical Washington can be to Russia and Israel when it comes to them dealing with their Muslim terrorists.
Some polititions in Washington are real hypocrits. But you have to admit, Bush is less hypocritical then Clinton. He has said he supports Russia and Israel in their fight against Terrorism!
The more they kill, the less we have to worry about.
Yep. Here is something form Stratford Terrorism Intelligence this week:
More than likely, chemical threat information has surfaced because of al Qaeda suspect debriefings, technical intercepts, and analysis of al Qaeda's anticipated actions. Various seized documents demonstrate a significant interest on the part of al Qaeda planners and trainers in the potential for chemical attacks, although information on their actual capabilities is limited. Training manuals were found in Afghanistan, and some experimental training took place at camps in Chechnya and Georgia's Pankisi Gorge.
These two Jihadist scum killed and maimed many. Therefor their family and village should also be considered for "liquidation".
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