SUKHUMI/MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax-AVN) - Rumors about the possible death of Chechen separatist leader Shamil Basayev are circulating in Abkhazia.
This information comes from people close to the Basayev family, who reside in Abkhazia, a source in republican law enforcement told Interfax.
"We have information that Basayev's relatives were informed from Chechnya about the possible death of separatist leader Basayev in the second half of January," the source told Interfax on Thursday on condition of anonymity.
The information "comes from the circle of an influential Chechen field commander close to Basayev," he said.
The report indicates that Basayev was mortally wounded in a clash with a group of foreign mercenaries in Gudermes district. "Unconfirmed information from Chechnya says several foreign mercenaries from the circle of Abu Khavs (al-Qaeda coordinator of terrorist activities in the North Caucasus - Interfax) were wounded in the clash. One of the wounded mercenaries is a certain Yassir," the source said.
Allegedly, the militants buried Basayev's body.
The Federal Security Service's public relations center has refused to comment on the report.
Basayev fought for Abkhazia in the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in 1992-93. He still has family members, including an Abkhaz wife and son, and friends in Abkhazia.