Chechen warlord’s brother killed

Hamid, brother of notorious Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev, is believed to have been killed in a raid carried out by a special police unit in the Vedeno district of the Chechen republic last night, officials at the Federal Security Service told Interfax on today. Hamid Basayev, the ex-deputy head of the general headquarters of the Chechen rebels' army, has reportedly been the main organizer of logistics support for the illegal armed groups. Two rebel bases for 40 rebels each were reportedly discovered and eliminated during the special operation in the mountains of the Vedeno district.