KHANKALA. July 16 (Interfax-AVN) - A unit of the Russian Airborne Force has killed three guerillas in an engagement in the Vedeno district of Chechnya, Deputy Commander of the Combined Federal Force in the North Caucasus Lieutenant Colonel Nikolai Berzeitis told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Guerillas rob civilians to get money and fill food stocks. Threatening them with weapons, bandits take all things of value out of houses. An airborne unit traced one of the gangs totaling 10 persons in the Vedeno district. A reconnaissance team managed to catch them north of the village of Selmentauzen on Tuesday. Three guerillas were killed in the exchange of fire," Berzeitis said.
According to him, a search for the other members of the gang is underway; the federals suffered no losses.
The activity of Chechen warlord Shamil Basaev's envoys, who conducted propaganda among local residents, was suppressed in the Urus-Martan district of Chechnya.
"A federal unit killed two rebels south of the village of Alkhazurovo. Leaflets with threats to the Chechen citizens who collaborate with the federals and packs of Wahhabi literature were seized there in addition to small arms - an SKS carbine and an AK-74 assault rifle," Berzeitis said.
Federal sappers checked 643km of roads in Chechnya to detect landmines and other explosive devices.
In the past 24 hours, federals have destroyed five guerillas and seven arms caches that contained two pieces of small arms, 51 grenades, over 12,000 ammo to small arms, 22 mortar shells, a portable grenade launcher, an antitank missile, 131 grenade launcher rounds, and 4.5kg of explosives.