Chechen rebels to fight Israelis

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, OCT. 15. A Chechen rebel commander is planning to send militants to West Asia to help Palestinians fight Israel, Russian security sources said.

Russian news agencies quoted sources in the Federal Security Service as confirming reports that the notorious Chechen warlord, Shamil Bassayev, is getting ready 150 militants for taking part in an ``Islamic jehad to liberate Jerusalem.''

A Chechen rebel Internet site announced on Friday plans to send 150 militants to Palestine ``to the aid of Hamaz and Islamic Jihad'' which are fighting Israel's security forces. In a separate report from Washington, the Itar-Tass news agency quoted a Congress expert as saying Chechen rebels were building up a force of 153 fighters who had undergone training in Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The fighters included both Chechens and mercenaries from a number of countries, which made it easier for them to enter Israel on foreign passports in order to stage terrorist attacks. A Kremlin spokesman for Chechnya dismissed the reports as ``a Chechen propaganda trick and a public relations move.'' Mr. Sergei Yastrzhembsky told the Interfax news agency that the Chechen rebels who confronted overwhelming Russian forces were hardly in a position to send dozens of fighters to West Asia on the threshold of winter.

``Bassayev's statement was prompted by dwindling interest towards Chechen terrorists on the part of their Arab sponsors,'' Mr. Yastrzhembsky said. ``By voicing solidarity with Arabs, Chechen commanders just want to remind of themselves.''

However, on Saturday, Russian security sources confirmed Chechen plans to dispatch militants to West Asia. They said the decision was taken at a meeting of Chechen rebel commanders a few days ago.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Musharraf Govt. buys peace with `madrassas'
Next     : Probe 'upset' hijackers