GROZNY. Nov 10 (Interfax-AVN) - Operation Revenge, which is being carried out by law enforcement agencies in Chechnya, will continue until the leaders of illegal armed units are wiped out, Chechen President Alu Alkhanov told the press in Grozny on Wednesday.
The Chechen Interior Ministry and other agencies are "carrying out uninterrupted operations to find Basayev and Maskhadov," Alkhanov said.
"Operation Revenge, which was launched several months ago, will last until the complete elimination of the leaders of illegal armed groups and the eradication of terrorism," he said.
Alkhanov praised the outcome of special operations that were recently conducted in the Vedeno district, in which prominent separatist leaders were killed.
"The Chechen Interior Ministry is capable of fulfilling many of the tasks arising at the current stage of the fight against terrorism and banditry on its own," Alkhanov said.
The ministry's staff will not be increased and will remain at the current level of about 15,000, he said.
The struggle against kidnapping is one of the ministry's main tasks, Alkhanov said. "The civilized world is shocked by reports of kidnappings in Chechnya," he said.
"The Chechen economy will not grow or develop if the security problem is not solved. No one will invest money in Chechnya if these tasks are not fulfilled," Alkhanov said.