| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| 750 hard boyz in Chechnya |
| 2006-01-18 |
| About 750 militants are active in Chechnya, and they are divided into 70 to 75 small groups, the head of the Interior Troops in Chechnya said Tuesday. Lieutenant General Oleg Khotin said fighters were concentrated in Chechnya's rugged mountains, but he acknowledged they also retained a significant presence in Grozny, Interfax reported. Last week, officials said nearly 300 militants were killed by federal forces in Chechnya last year. On Tuesday, Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Alkhanov said "a stinging blow was delivered to armed groups last year." Alkhanov also said 121 Chechen police officers died over the past year in actions against militants and that 283 others were wounded. Also Tuesday, Chechen President Alu Alkhanov said 77 people were abducted in the republic last year. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |