Doku Umarov, Russia's most wanted terrorist, whom the authorities hoped to have killed in an air strike last month, is alive and preparing reprisals, according to an audio tape.A man claiming to be Umarov telephoned the North Caucasus service of Radio Free Europe, saying that he was "absolutely healthy" in a Chechen language message, the radio said on its website late Thursday.
Although the authenticity of the message is unverified, the correspondents said the voice was "recognizably" that of Umarov.
Russia had said that some 17 Islamist rebels were killed in an air strike on March 29 in the Ingushetia and security sources had hoped that Umarov was among the dead. But Umarov's death has never been confirmed officially.
"There was an operation in which several mujahedin died," the voice said. "My death was announced too. They won't receive any respite from me. I'm preparing my answer to them. They should expect news from me soon."
The tape was also the subject of an article on the Kavkaz Center website.
According to Kommersant, Umarov also said that the structure of the Caucasus Emirate he leads has not been destroyed despite the considerable blow.
Only one prominent
Asked by the radio why he staged the Moscow airport attack, Umarov responded that airports were "not civilian targets."