 Chechen separatist leader Shamil Basayev has denied reports of his own death which appeared last week in the Russian press, saying he is alive and well and even stabbing his artificial limb to prove it. Basayev, whose leg was amputated in 2000, appeared in a video reportedly recorded on Sunday. In the four-minute video, which was obtained by the separatist news site Kavkazcenter.com, he said that he is feeling well, that he is not suffering from kidney problems. His wooden leg is also fine, Basayev said in the video. But Basayev dismissed reports that the cease-fire was ordered by Maskhadov in response to the arrest of his relatives, and calling the reports Russian lies and propaganda. Basayev added that reports of the death of another field commander, Doku Umarov, were disinformation. Basayev reiterated his demands for full sovereignty and independence for Chechnya, saying that the war would continue until then. |
