NALCHIK. July 13 (Interfax-AVN) - A counter-terrorist operation has been brought to a close in Elbrus district in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Kabardino-Balkaria.
The operation's regime, which was introduced on June 30, was cancelled at 6:00 a.m. Moscow time on Monday.
"The head of the Russian Federal Security Service's branch for the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic, who is also commander of the counter-terrorist operation, has taken a decision to end the counter-terrorist operation. The counter-terrorist operation's regime was cancelled in the localities of Tyrnyauz. Kendelev, Bedyk, Bylym, Tegenekli, Terskol, Elbrus, Neitrino and Verkhny Baksan in the territory of the Elbrus municipal district of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic at 6:00 a.m. on July 13, 2009," the operation's headquarters said in a press release on Monday.
During the counter-terrorist operation, officers of the law enforcement services and representatives of the municipality administration checked passports and examined houses, basements, garages and abandoned buildings, the headquarters said.
"A considerable amount of weapons, ammunition and explosives was confiscated, which helped prevent several major terrorist attacks. Helicopters were used to check possible militant hideouts in forested and mountainous areas," it said.
"Based on the results of the counter-terrorist operation, senior officials of the operation's headquarters in the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic have given a positive assessment of the activities of all forces and means involved in the operation, as well as the level of cooperation between all participants in the anti-terrorist operation," the headquarters said.