Vakhabites and Murderers Destroyed

Law enforcement authorities have been taking stock of the 3-day-long special operation conducted in the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, which ended Sunday. The gunmen besieged in a residence building in the center of the republican capital Nalchik have been destroyed. Units of the Internal Affairs Ministry and Federal Security Service have jointly carried off the operation. As a result of the successful actions of the special services, a sabotage and terror gang that was planning acts of terror on Russian territory has been liquidated.

Arkadi Yedelev, head of the regional operational headquarters for counter-terror operations in North Caucasus, told journalist the details of the operation. In Nalchik five gunmen have been detained and three killed, a laboratory for manufacturing explosive devices uncovered, and a great number of explosives and detonators seized.

The gunmen killed during the assault operation have been on the wanted list under suspicion of having committed acts of terror in the Rostov Region and Stavropol Territory. The special services have been able to establish their connection with Basayev and Maskhadov.

The identity of one of the gunmen has been disclosed. It is an army deserter, Russian, resident of the Murmansk Region. Several years ago this gunman deserted his unit and adopted Islam. A video-film in possession of the investigators show the bandit taking part in executions of captured servicemen of the federal forces.

Commenting on the results of the Sunday operation, A. Yedelev disclosed that the special troops had used tear gas against the gunmen. No casualties have been reported among the federal forces.