Chechen leaders 'order ceasefire'

BBC News World Edition ^ | Thursday, 3 February, 2005

[bd476]

Chechen rebels have been fighting for more than a decade

"Chechen separatist leaders have ordered a ceasefire for the month of February, a pro-rebel website reports.

The Kavkaz Centre site said that Aslan Maskhadov, the former elected president of Chechnya, and warlord Shamil Basayev had ordered the ceasefire.

It said all offensive actions were to be halted "as a display of goodwill".

Moscow has not responded to the news. It has put millions of dollars on the heads of both men, whom it blames for atrocities like the Beslan siege.

"We do not react to Kavkazcenter. This is not an official organ," said a Russian spokesman in the North Caucasus region.

In the past the Kremlin has firmly rejected international calls to open negotiations with the Chechen rebels.

Continue mining

The statement on the website, signed by Mr Basayev, told rebel fighters not to carry out "diversionary attacks" in Chechnya or in the rest of Russia, attacks on Russian bases, Russian convoys or vehicles, or on "traitors or unbelievers".

It said fighters should "continue mining approaches to their bases and to continue operations to destroy people or machinery of the enemy forces who are spying or attacking mountainous forested areas".

Mr Basayev has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks on Russia carried out in recent years, including bomb attacks and the Beslan siege, in which more than 320 people were killed after rebels occupied a school.

Mr Maskhadov has condemned Beslan, and says Mr Basayev should stand trial over it..."

[bd476]

This answers the question brought up in the following:

Related thread

[bd476]

Ping.

[ApplegateRanch]

Running low on ammo & meds, and need to resupply?

Or just don't want to go outside in the February cold?

Anytime an enemy wants a cease-fire, it is time to step up the shelling of him.

[bd476]

Considering the amount of money that Moscow has offered up as a reward for Basaev and ex- Chechen President Maskhadov it is doubtful that Moscow knows where they are.

[bd476]

Meanwhile in the nearby Russian Republic of Dagestan from BBC Online:

Wednesday, 2 February, 2005, 21:59 GMT

North Caucasus official shot dead


Omarov's car and a second vehicle were
strafed with bullets

"Gunmen in the southern Russian republic of Dagestan have shot dead a senior policeman, local officials have said. Maj Gen Magomed Omarov, a deputy interior minister in the republic, died along with three bodyguards as he drove home from work on Wednesday evening.

Omarov survived a roadside bomb attack in May 2003, local media reported.

Dagestan, which borders on Chechnya, is an ethnically diverse Muslim region with a history of violence both from rebel groups and criminal gangs.

The attack happened at around 2100 local time (1800 GMT) near the centre of the region's capital, Makhachkala, ministry spokesman Abdul Musayev said.

Omarov's vehicle and a second car carrying bodyguards were strafed with bullets by unknown assailants.

Six gunmen and four policemen were killed in fighting in the region last month in what the authorities described as the prevention of an attack similar to the Beslan school siege."

North Caucasus official shot dead

[bd476]

When in short supply of Iranian made gas heaters, here is another method they find effective.

[bd476]

Ping.

[Grzegorz 246]

Thanks for ping.
Russians killed thousands of Chechen civilians in last ten years, so I have some sympathy for these people, however "Mr Basayev" should be killed as soon as it is possible. Maskhadov should find him and cut off his head If he wants to show that he is a partisan, not a terrorist.

[bd476]

According to reports, there is a price on Maskhadov's head the same as Basaev. Couldn't they have negotiated with Moscow a long time ago and avoided the bloodshed.

Wait, I think I know the answer...

[Grzegorz 246]

Chechnya is a huge mess, both sides committed so many mistakes that any negotiations won't be rather possible.

[PigRigger]

Nice profile - pictures are worth a thousand words....

[Grzegorz 246]

Thanks.

[MeekOneGOP]

bump!

[bd476]

Deputy Interior Minister in the Republic of Dagestan Shot Dead.

North Caucasus Official Killed

[PhilDragoo]

Thank you for all of your information on these linked threads.