16:32, 30 December 2003

Rebels surrounded in Dagestan try to break into Georgia

A gunman, who surrendered to a crack police unit in Dagestan on December 29, said that Arab mercenaries had chosen ten battle-worthy gunmen and were heading towards Georgia.

He said they had taken off warm clothes and foodstuffs from other gunmen, leaving them to cover their retreat. Ten of the remaining rebels were killed by federal troops, and eight died in an avalanche triggered by the shelling.

The surrendering militant also said that Arab mercenaries had killed two other gunmen who wanted to surrender together with him, sources from the public relations centre of the Federal Security Service reported.

"A reconnaissance group of Russian border troops has seized two terrorists among the retreating group. One of them is Dagestani national and another one is Chechen," the sources said.

The two confirmed that the remaining group of terrorists was heading for Georgia. Another terrorist from the group was seized late on Monday. There are notorious Arab field commanders among the militants seeking to break though into Georgia.

Editors note: See also the article "Most part of rebels who penetrated in Dagestan was destroyed, according to the military".

Source: ITAR-TASS News Agency