Chechen terrorists continue destabilising situation in the republic

Additional forces of the Chechen special police units (200 men) were sent to the Chechen village of Avtury to search for and eliminate the remnants of a bandit group, reported the republic's interior ministry on Thursday.

"It has been stated that 8 militants were killed, but these data can be changed since a large number of bandits, who broke through the encirclment, have been wounded," stressed an interior ministry representative.

As far as the federal forces are concerned, one Chechen policeman was killed, two wounded and an officer of the Russian Interior Ministry troops was slightly wounded, reported the agency's interlocutor.

Earlier, the republic's interior ministry stated that 60 bandits who attacked Avtury were headed by Arab mercenary Abu al-Valid.