Six rebels have surrendered in Chechnya over the past 24 hours, Colonel Ilya Shabalkin, spokesman for the regional headquarters of the counter-terrorism operation in the North Caucasus, told Interfax. They were members of rebel groups run by some of the most well-known field commanders, notorious for their severe methods of fighting. Shabalkin noted that investigators are still working with the former rebels, who have given a written pledge not to leave the republic pending an amnesty decision. He said they also revealed places where rebels hide their arms. Acting on their tip-off, sappers destroyed a cache containing four antitank shells, 24 mines, four home-made explosive devices filled with 15 kg of TNT, as well as satellite phones, near the village of Yalkhoy-Mokhk in Kurchaloi District. The official said the discovery also revealed a number of reports about perpetrated terrorist attacks and murders, as well as maps pointing to federal forces' positions. "A total of 200 rebels have already put down their weapons. And 103 of them have been amnestied," he added.
| 200 of a total strength estimated at 1200, counting the Arabs, but still carrying on recruiting... |
More than 10 caches with arms and ammunition have been discovered and destroyed, and about 60 tonnes of oil products being smuggled from Chechnya have been confiscated over the past 24 hours. Several terrorist attacks have also been prevented over this period. For example, a landmine made from a 122-mm artillery shell was defused in Grozny's Leninsky District, which has already seen a number of terrorist attacks. |