Two men close to separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov detained in Chechnya

Two men close to the separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov have been detained in Chechnya, said a spokesman for the regional strategic headquarters for coordinating anti-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus. The so-called "chief of Ichkeria's armed forces operations department" Islam Khasukhanov and his aide Said Abubakarov were detained on Sunday evening in the town of Shali during a special operation. They were caught unawares in a private house and could show no resistance, the spokesman said. A radio station, computers, and office equipment, as well as documents and seals of the "operations department of Ichkeria's armed forces headquarters" were confiscated. Now the detainees are under investigation, said the spokesman.