MOSCOW - "A big war in Chechnya is over," Colonel-General Vladimir Boldyrev, Commander of the North Caucasus Military District, said at a meeting of the district’s Military Council Friday. According to him, more than 600 rebels were killed in Chechnya in January-June 2003. Large rebel groups were destroyed thanks to effective actions by federal forces, Col.-Gen. Boldyrev stressed.

However, a ‘small’ war still continues in the republic. According to the regional command center for the anti-terrorism operation in the North Caucasus, a car packed with explosives was found near the Novy Sharoi settlement in the Achkhoi-Martan district. The explosive device, which contained 300 kg of ammonium nitrate and aluminum powder and an electric detonator, has been defused by explosive experts. An investigation is under way.

In a special operation by Chechen law enforcement forces, deputy prosecutors of the Shatoi and Shalin districts of Chechnya, Nadezhda Pogosova and Alexey Klimov, have been rescued from captivity. They are now outside Chechnya. The details of the operation have not been released yet.

Nadezhda Pogosova and Alexey Klimov were taken hostage on December 27, 2002, near the Goragorskaya settlement. They were on their way to Mozdok, where a Russian military base is located.