KHANKALA, June 4 (AVN) - A search operation aimed at finding and eliminating a 10-strong rebel group started in the Oktyabrsky district of Grozny at 5.00 Moscow time (0100 GMT) on Monday, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters in the North Caucasus told the Military News Agency.
Members of the group, which is directly supervised by notorious warlord Khattab, specialise in planting mines and explosive devices. One of the ambushes found two saboteurs that started planting a landmine in a residential area of Grozny at 11.40 Moscow time (0740 GMT). The saboteurs put up resistance and were eliminated. The IDs found at the site confirmed their relation to the wanted group.
Lately the rebels have restored a channel which they used for taking people and cargo across the Chechnya-Dagestan administrative border, the spokesman said. Radio interception confirms that after the snow melted several caravans crossed the border. "We are now in Botlikh. If you need us we are ready to join together with brothers. By the way, the Taliban also want to participate," a group commander said in an intercepted conversation after the group's arrival in Botlikh.