GROZNY. Sept 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Over 20 rebels have been killed in a special operation in the mountains of eastern Chechnya, the republic's Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov told Interfax by telephone on Tuesday.
Kadyrov, who is also Chechen presidential security chief, was calling from the scene, where he is overseeing the operation.
"Operational reports say 23 rebels were killed. There are reasons to believe that some others were wounded," Kadyrov said.
On Monday, an illegal armed group estimated at over 100 in number was surrounded between Alleroi in the Kurchaloi district and Meskhety in the Nozhai-Yurt district, he said.
"The rebels offered stubborn resistance. The exchange of fire lasted throughout the night," Kadyrov said. He added that officers of the Chechen presidential security force were killed and wounded in the operation.
"Two officers of the service died of wounds. Those were men very close to me who fought the rebels from the first days of the anti- terrorist operation," he said.
"Eighteen servicemen from the security service and the police patrol regiment were wounded and taken to the hospital," Kadyrov said.
"The operation is continuing. Steps are being taken to prevent the rebels from breaking through," he said.
Reports say the besieged group is led by Akhmed Avdorkhanov, which some time ago burned down several houses in Alleroi.
Dagestani citizen Rappani Khalilov, who is wanted in relation to the May 9, 2002, terrorist act in Kaspiysk, may be with the group, Kadyrov said.