Kadyrov To Start Negotiation Process With Chechen Rebels

Chechen administration head Akhmad Kadyrov told journalists at a military base in Khankala on Tuesday that he intended to send his representative to start negotiating with Chechen guerilla Ruslan Galayev, Itar-Tass news agency reported. Kadyrov believes now it is possible to convince Galayev and his gang mates to cease their military resistance. According to the administration head, Galayev is deep in thought whether to continue fighting or not. Kadyrov considers they are no longer able to break the situation in the republic. Russian is now carrying out a partial withdrawal of troops from the separatist republic. Russian President made the decision to cut military forces from Chechnya on January 22. Kadyrov announced his plans to try negotiating with Chechen rebels exactly at the seeing-off ceremony before the departure of the first Russian military unit leaving for its permanent disposition. Russia withdrew its troops from Chechnya in 1996, but the army returned in September 1999, after incursions by Chechen rebels into neighbouring Daghestan and the deaths of some 300 people in apartment bombings that Russian officials blamed on rebels. Almost twenty months into so-called "anti terrorist" campaign, Moscow has established nominal control over the republic. Moscow says the war is over, but Russian troops come under regular attack from Chechen rebels who have split up into small groups hiding in mountains.