Three youths detained in Chechen village

Officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) on September 16 detained in the village of Sernovodsk, Sunzhen region, in Chechnya three youths: Movla Batalov (13), Bekhan Sulayev (22) and technical college student Usam Nazirov. It is believed that the arrested were taken to the regional department of internal affairs.

The day before two policemen sent to Chechnya from Russia were killed in Sernovodsk, and three others were injured. They were fired at by two unknown persons who followed the policemen into a cafe near the office of the village administration.

According to the Russian-Chechen Friendship Society, on the following day a column of federal troops arrived at Sernovodsk to "mop-up" the village. They came on seven armored personnel carriers and several "Ural" trucks. But their way was blocked by members of the Chechen OMON (the police special task force) that came to the village the night before. A skirmish ensued between the military and OMON officers. But after the OMON chief produced a certain written order, the column of federal troops left the village.

[17.09.2003 19:49] Prima News Agency