Defence minister of Russia Sergei Ivanov has ruled out the possibility that Aslan Maskhadov, leader of the Chechen separatists, will fall under amnesty and run in the presidential elections in Chechnya. He made this statement Wednesday, speaking to reporters in Khankala after a meeting with the command of the forces of the North Caucasian Military District and the Joint Group of Forces in the North Caucasus. Ivanov also ruled out the possibility of talks with Maskhadov. "I always tell those who recommend entering negotiations with Aslan Maskhadov to start talks with Mullah Omar," the minister said.
| Good comeback, Sergei. Maskhadov's too comfortably snuggled in bed with the Islamists, to include Bashayev and al-Walid (aka al-Ghamdi), to forgive and forget. |
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