A large base capable of accommodating of up to 40 rebels has been destroyed in Chechnya's Nozhai-Yurt district. Spokesman for the regional headquarters for the counter-terrorism operation in the North Caucasus, Maj. Gen. Ilya Shabalkin, told Interfax on Tuesday that "having been caught unawares, ten people guarding the base started to fire at random from automatic weapons. Three rebels were killed in the shoot-out, and the rest managed to hide in a forest." A large amount of munitions, explosives, improvised explosive devices, radio receivers, sleeping bags, medicines and military uniforms were confiscated from the scene. The base is reported to have belonged to the rebel group led by notorious rebel commander Rappani Khalilov, Shabalkin said.
The weapons and property discovered at the base suggest that the rebels were planning a major terrorist attack in Chechnya. A search for the rebels is in progress. An armed clash involving federal troops and an unidentified rebel group, took place near the village of Simsir on July 17. Eight rebels are believed to have been killed. A search is continuing near the village of Shaami-Yurt in the Achkhoi-Martan district for the rebels involved in another armed clash with federal servicemen two days ago. |