KHANKALA. April 2 (Interfax-AVN) - Federal positions in Chechnya came under fire 49 times during the week ending on Monday. Twenty-four of the attacks came at night.
The headquarters of the federal forces in the North Caucasus told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday that during the same period, federal vehicles hit mines 22 times. Sappers neutralized over 140 explosive devices, including 14 powerful land mines.
Search and reconnaissance operations in the mountains resulted in the death of seven rebels and the destruction of three bases and 18 secret arms depots. In particular, several portable surface-to-air missile systems made in Russia were found in a cache in the Vedeno district.
Federals engaged rebel formations in Grozny, Shali, the village of Oktyabrsky and the Vedeno district.
Seventy-four suspected rebels were detained in the course of special operations in 12 Chechen localities.