GROZNY. Jan 8 (Interfax-AVN) - Federal troops that conducted a special operation in Argun are being withdrawn, the town administration told Interfax.
Armored vehicles and servicemen of the Defense and Interior Ministries will be transferred to valley villages south and east of Argun, they said.
The active stage of the operation, which lasted several days, has been wrapped up, they said.
In the past week, 187 suspected members of illegal armed formations were detained. Of these, 13 Argun residents remain under arrest.
The administration did not state the exact number of militants eliminated. From 7 to 12 fighters were reportedly killed. Vinogradnaya Street, where a clash between federal forces and militants broke out on Monday evening, remains sealed. Investigators are focusing on identifying the militants who were killed and clarifying the circumstances of the attack. Investigators want to find out who backed the fighters, the administration said.
No vehicles are allowed into or out of Argun, except for defense force and police vehicles. Few civilians venture outdoors. Mainly women go shopping and deal with other problems. Trade was resumed at the local market and prices have not changed much.
Pedestrians were allowed through checkpoints on Tuesday afternoon. Argun residents who were out of town when the operation was launched were permitted to walk home. They had to spend several days in Grozny and other towns.
Servicemen at roadblocks did not say when transportation would be resumed in the town and on the roads to Vedeno and Gudermes. The Argun administration said the ban might be lifted on Wednesday morning.