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Operation to find Basayev, Maskhadov underway in Chechnya

MOSCOW. Sept 19 (Interfax) - An operation to find Chechen rebel leaders Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov is underway in the mountains of Chechnya, Chechen Deputy Interior Minister Sultan Satuyev told Interfax on Sunday.

"We have intelligence suggesting that Basayev and Maskhadov are in Chechnya and are most probably hiding in the mountains," Satuyev said.

He said mobile police groups have been formed at the order of Chechen Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, who is responsible for the law-enforcement agencies, to gather intelligence about Basayev and Maskhadov, and to carry out an operation to neutralize them.

This work is being done jointly with the combined forces in the North Caucasus, the Federal Security Service and interior troops, Satuyev said, adding that over 1,000 people are involved.

Simultaneously, operations to track down and eliminate illegal rebel formations are being carried out, said Satuyev.

Dozens of rebels have been eliminated and a large amount of ammunition has been seized since the beginning of September, he said.

"The law-enforcement agencies have been ordered to take maximum measures to arrest Maskhadov and Basayev. But if these people offer armed resistance, putting the lives of policemen under threat, they will be eliminated," Satuyev said.