KHANKALA. Nov 19 (Interfax-AVN) - Chechen rebels opened fire at federal positions and installations 71 times last week, which is a decline from 93 times the week before, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
The highest rebel activity was registered in the Leninsky district of Grozny and the Shali district of Chechnya, the spokesman said. According to him, rebels have shifted their activities from foothills to plainlands as a result of successful federal operations that resulted in destruction of several arms caches and organisation of a series of successful ambushes.
The spokesman said the number of guerrilla gangs had been on the rise in Grozny and its outskirts lately. Up to 200 rebels subordinate to warlords Basayev, Khattab, Chalayev, Dzhabrailov and Munayev are operating in the city at present. Ongoing sabotage activity in Grozny shows that extremist leaders continue financing their units in the city.