GROZNY. Jan 11 (Interfax-AVN) - In the early hours of Friday, formations of the unified federal group in the North Caucasus sealed off the Chechen district capital of Shali in the foothills on the Grozny-Vedeno highway.
That is the intersection of strategic roads leading to the Nozhai-Yurt and Kurchaloi districts and large villages in the Shali district.
At the local administration, Interfax was told that armored vehicles are stationed in the center of Shali. Traffic in the central square is prohibited. The city's entrances have been closed from the directions of Duba-Yurt, Makhkety, Vedeno and Avtury.
The operation underway "is of a targeted nature." The number of detainees has not been disclosed. There have been no armed incidents. The local authorities have not been told when the operation will be completed.
Two beheaded male bodies in civilian clothes were discovered in a field to the west of Shali on Thursday.