Grozny, April 29 (RFE/RL) - Russian
officials report that the new Chechen separatists' leader, Zelimkhan
Yandarbiyev, has been killed.
Interfax quotes the interior minister of the pro Moscow Chechen government, Khamid Inalov, as confirming Yandarbiyev's death. Itar-Tass also quotes the secretary of the pro-Moscow Chechen security council, Ruslan Tsakaev, who says Yandarbiyev was killed last night.
There has been no independent confirmation of this report and no details available from the separatists.
Interfax quotes the commander of Russian forces in Chechnya, General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, as saying fighting erupted among separatist leaders, who clashed on Sunday night. Tikhomirov said he had received reports of Yandarbiyev's death in the clash, but he said it was "too early" to confirm anything.
Yandarbiyev succeeded Dzhokhar Dudayev as Chechen separatist leader last week, after Dudayev himself was killed, reportedly in a Russian air raid.
Interfax quotes the interior minister of the pro Moscow Chechen government, Khamid Inalov, as confirming Yandarbiyev's death. Itar-Tass also quotes the secretary of the pro-Moscow Chechen security council, Ruslan Tsakaev, who says Yandarbiyev was killed last night.
There has been no independent confirmation of this report and no details available from the separatists.
Interfax quotes the commander of Russian forces in Chechnya, General Vyacheslav Tikhomirov, as saying fighting erupted among separatist leaders, who clashed on Sunday night. Tikhomirov said he had received reports of Yandarbiyev's death in the clash, but he said it was "too early" to confirm anything.
Yandarbiyev succeeded Dzhokhar Dudayev as Chechen separatist leader last week, after Dudayev himself was killed, reportedly in a Russian air raid.