Posted on 03/11/2004 11:30:17 PM PST by RussianConservative
Law enforcement agents in Chechnya have killed a top commander of the Riyadus-Salikhin martyrs' brigade, which has been blamed for a series of deadly suicide attacks across Russia.
Aslan Gazuyev, who reportedly commanded the group, classified by Russia and the United States as a terrorist organization, was killed during an operation conducted by Chechen police and Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov's security service in the Kurchaloi district, a local official told Interfax on Wednesday.
Five more rebels were killed and four wounded, said Ramzan Kadyrov, the Chechen president's son who heads the security service, Interfax reported.
Chechen rebel commander Shamil Basayev has been previously believed to be leading this battalion, but Ramzan Kadyrov said he exercised control of the group through Gazuyev.
Ramzan Kadyrov said that another rebel warlord, Boris Aidamirov, and 10 of his men surrendered Thursday. He said Aidamirov was an aide to rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov.
Magomed Khambiyev, a one-time defense minister in the Chechen rebel government, denied allegations Thursday that he had been forced to surrender after the detention of his family members, Interfax reported.
"I was in opposition to Russia for 13 years, but I decided to stop because my people want peace and tranquillity," Khambiyev told reporters in Gudermes. Khambiyev surrendered to the Moscow-backed Chechen administration this week.
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