The Islamist rebel leading the anti-Kremlin insurgency in the Russian region of Chechnya Wednesday withdrew an announcement that he was stepping down and vowed to carry on killing "enemies of Allah".It was not clear what had prompted the about-turn by Doku Umarov, who days before had released a video in which he clearly stated he was stepping down and even named a successor. "Due to the situation in the Caucasus I consider that it is impossible for me to quit my duties," Umarov said in a video posted on rebel websites and Youtube.
Like, the Russians want you dead regardless ...
Umarov, whose group claimed the attacks on the Moscow metro that killed 40 people this year, said earlier this week he had grown tired and was stepping down in favour of a younger militant successor named Aslambek Vadalov.
"The previous declaration is annulled. It is a falsification," said Umarov, also known by his nom-de-guerre of Abu Usman, leaning on an automatic weapon. "I declare that my health is good to serve Allah. And I will serve the word of Allah and work to kill the enemies of Allah in all the time that he gives me to live on this earth."
In the video in which he had announced his resignation, Umarov was shown seated on the ground in an unidentified forested area in khaki trousers and a dark blue sweater. He was sitting between two other militants, one of whom was identified as Vadalov.
In the new video — posted by the same sources as the first — Umarov is this time shown sitting alone in full military fatigues with short sleeves talking in a wooded area.