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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Chechen cease-fire holding
2005-02-07
Rebels in Chechnya have not attacked federal forces in the three days since the rebels' fugitive leader ordered a cease-fire, a source in the republic's pro-Moscow police said Sunday. An end to near-daily rebel attacks would come as an unwelcome surprise to Russian politicians who rebuff foreign suggestions of peace talks by saying separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov is a spent force without control over the rebel ranks. Maskhadov's order for a monthlong cease-fire, which he said was a sign of his willingness to enter peace talks, was published on rebel web sites late Wednesday.

Russian politicians immediately dismissed the order as meaningless, even though it was the first peace bid for years to be backed by radical warlord Shamil Basayev, but the Chechen police source said it was being obeyed. "In the last three days, there have been no attacks from the fighters," the source said. The military command in the North Caucasus backed up his comments, although without specifics.
Posted by:Dan Darling

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