MOSCOW - Nikolai Patrushev, Director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, believes that special services will be able to “neutralize” Chechen warlords Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov. “Work is underway,” he told NTV channel.

Commenting on media reports that Shamil Basayev was receiving medical treatment in the Kabardino-Balkar republic, Mr. Patrushev said the notorious warlord indeed stayed in the region for a short time. Mr. Patrushev said he was unaware whether Basayev had been receiving medical treatment in the area.

A special operation called “Retaliation” continues in the Nozhai-Yurt district. Forces of the Chechen Interior Ministry and federal troops have been fighting with Chechen extremists for more than a week already. Presumably, extremist groups are led by Aslan Maskhadov and his chief body guard Akhmed Avdorkhanov.

Meanwhile, conflicting reports are coming from Chechnya regarding the whereabouts of Aslan Maskhadov. According to some reports, he was encircled by Russian troops, while other reports say he escaped from the area. There were also reports that Aslan Maskhadov was sighted in the Kurchaloi district.

According to the Federal Security Service, Mr. Patrushev said, about 10,000 al-Qaeda people were operating in the North Caucasus. This year alone, intelligence services have foiled about 500 terrorist attacks, including 200 that would have a significant impact on the public.