GROZNY. March 3 (Interfax-AVN) - A large rebel unit has been neutralized in the highlands of South Chechnya near Tazen-Kale in the Vedeno district.
The rebels fired at federal servicemen and tried to escape into the Nozhai-Yurt district, representative of the regional headquarters of the anti-terrorist campaign in the North Caucasus Colonel Ilya Shabalkin told Interfax.
"Twenty-five rebels were killed in the pursuit. Artillery gave fire support to the operation," Shabalkin said.
A small group of rebels, including several who were slightly wounded, managed to escape into the woody highlands, he noted.
"It has been revealed that the rebels were members of the Abu-Supyan Gutanov unit," Shabalkin said. "Federal forces and law- enforcement agencies are working to identify the rebels and expose their accomplices. None of the servicemen was hurt."