Seven militants detained in Chechnya

Seven militants from the gang of a Shansudi Sapiyev have been detained in the Shalinsky district of Chechnya, the regional headquarters for the North Caucasus counter-terrorist operation reported on Wednesday.

"The militants were detained the day before in a joint special operation of the Interior Ministry's servicemen and the military prosecutor's office," the headquarters' representative announced. The detainees are charged under four articles of the criminal code, such as banditry, production and storage of explosives, attempt on the life of law-enforcement structures serviceman of, he said.

Sapiyev, also known under the nickname Malysh, was killed on January 3, 2003, the headquarters' representative recalled. His gang was involved in many terrorist acts, for example, in blowing a truck with policemen, which killed 10 and wounded 7. The attack took place on September 3, 2002. According to the headquarters, Sapiyev was also responsible for involving teenagers aged 12-17 to terrorist acts.