KHANKALA. Feb 11 (Interfax-AVN) - Federal forces have seized several dozens of thousands of small arms pieces in Chechnya since December 2001, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
"Over 40,000 pieces of various small arms and some two million pieces of ammo have been found in Chechnya since December 2001," the spokesman said.
According to the military, the situation in the republic remains complicated. Last week, federals registered 59 attacks, including 37 in the nighttime, while rebels blasted 17 vehicles and pieces of other equipment.
Sappers found and defused some 140 explosive devices, including nine powerful landmines two of which were planted on the railway. They also cleared from mines two roadblocks on mountainous paths.
Guerrillas have stepped up activities in the city of Grozny, as well as in the Shelkovskaya and Itum-Kale districts and the Tsa-Vedeno village. Federal forcers engaged in special operations found and destroyed 14 arms caches in the Shali and Shatoi districts and a large ammo cache in the Starye Atagi village.
Over 20 people were detained on suspicion of involvement in rebel groups and for passport rules violations.