Chechnya, battle in Parliament
special bodies kill all the rebels

GROZNY – Russian special forces and security services killed all the rebels who had barricaded themselves with hostages inside the Chechen parliament in Grozny. The flash operation ended in about 20 minutes and “all the deputies are safe and sound,” said Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov.

According to the first reconstruction, the terrorists arrived on board a vehicle, becoming confused with the cars that bring deputies to Parliament. One of them blew himself up at the entrance to the building. At least two other rebels, five according to the Chechen Interior Minister, subsequently broke into the building, also taking some people hostage. At this point, the RIA Novosti news agency reported, a security forces operation was launched, conducted personally by Parliament President Ramzan Kadyrov. “All the militants who attacked the Chechen parliament were killed,” a spokesman announced.

During the raid, armed guerrillas held some of the present deputies hostage. “A vehicle with terrorists on board has entered the Parliament area as cars entered with deputies on board – police said – A person blew himself up outside the building while others went inside of the Parliament “.

All this while the Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nuerliyev is visiting the Chechen capital: a “failed attack”, said the minister. The victims of the attack are at least two security officers and a policeman, according to the official budget which also indicates three wounded, while according to other sources the wounded are up to 17, of which six policemen and 11 civilians. In all, the dead would be at least seven. At the head of the security operation the Chechen leader Kadyrov, who had a telephone conversation with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin who guaranteed maximum assistance for all those involved in the attack.

Today’s session of the Chechen Parliament opened as planned. President Kadyrov himself and Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev are present at the session. The assembly will discuss the budget, as planned, a spokesman for the Parliament in Grozny told Interfax.
(October 19, 2010)