MAKHACHKALA. March 15 (Interfax-AVN) -- The Dagestani Interior Ministry has confirmed reports that the two Chechen guerillas who were confined in Khasavyurt on Monday have managed to break through the police encirclement and escape.
"A search operation was continued in Khasavyurt on Tuesday morning, but it has not brought about any results. The militants might have escaped in the night, knowing that the city is densely populated and there are many passages and courtyards through which they could make their way out of the encirclement," said spokesman for the Dagestani Interior Ministry Abdulmanap Musayev.
He said strictly targeted operations are being conducted in the city.
"The militants have been identified. Both of them had been put on the international wanted list for attacking policemen and committing other serious crimes," he said.
He declined to name the militants "in the interests of the investigation."