Moscow, 12 August: Officers of law enforcement agencies and of federal forces deployed in Chechnya are engaged in an intensive search for members of illegal armed groups led by Dokka Umarov and others, Chechen Interior Minister Ruslan Alkhanov has told Interfax by telephone.

"Policemen and their colleagues from other agencies are collecting information and searching for members of this group practically around the clock. This work has not stopped for a single hour," Alkhanov said. He added that certain difficulties were linked to the fact that "there are very few of them (gunmen) left".

"Illegal armed groups have been completely destroyed, as we said previously more than once. The entire system of controlling (the armed groups) has been disrupted. Now Dokka Umarov and his several aides are trying to create an impression of their strength," Alkhanov said.

According to him, "they say that they are acting on behalf of the people, although no people have authorized them for this and could not have done so".

"How can one speak on behalf of the people, if because of them people are dying, women, old people and children among others," Alkhanov said.

He insisted that the number of members of illegal armed groups cannot exceed 100 people. He also described as "a myth all talk of new people joining illegal armed groups".

"This is fiction, a lie, these talks do not reflect the reality. There is no influx of young people to illegal armed groups, this is a well-known fact. Nevertheless, (members of) the groups are spreading these rumours to impress people that they still exist," Alkhanov said.

He also said that investigation had collected considerable material that would make it possible in the near future to find, detain or, in case of resistance, destroy the gunmen involved in the arson of houses and in killing the civilians in the village of Tsa-Vedeno (on 4 August).