18 May 2004, 18:09
Russian servicemen search for Basayev in Chechen mountains
A special operations detachment of the Russian Defense Ministry was ambushed by Chechen guerrillas near the village of Ersenoi in the Vedeno district during an operation to arrest Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev.
A source in the Chechen Interior Ministry said that during the battle, which lasted less than one hour, two Russian officers were killed and three wounded. The guerrillas managed to escape and a search is now underway to find them.
The same source reported that on Monday, May 17, two guerrillas gave themselves up to the Russians in Urus-Martan and Gudermes. These men, allegedly from a group around Chechen resistance leader Aslan Maskhadov, are now being interrogated as to the whereabouts of their leader.
Editors note: See also the article "11 soldiers die in Chechnya".
Author: Ruslan Isayev Source: Prague Watchdog
