KHANKALA. Jan 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Chechen guerillas blasted nine vehicles throughout the troubled region last week, a source in the unified federal headquarters told Interfax-Military News Agency on Monday.
He said that sappers defused over 100 explosive devices and cleared from mines two roadblocks and two bridges over this period. They also prevented a blast on the railway bed in the Gudermes district, detaining four guerillas on the spot. The men attempted to plant two landmines with a capacity of 50kg of TNT each, the source stressed.
"No dramatic changes have taken place in the nature of guerillas' actions. Bandit groups continue to mine roads that military convoys are using, as well as to attack positions of federal forces," the source noted. Last week, rebels attacked federal units 19 times, strongpoints seven times and administrative installations four times.
The source said that federal units engaged guerilla gangs in the city of Grozny, the Vedeno, Shali and Achkhoi-Martan districts and the Bamut village. During search operations, federals detained some 30 suspected rebels, found seven arms caches and destroyed nine illegal oil refineries.