Russia: April 21, 2005

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The 80,000 troops in Chechnya have lost 3,419 dead since 1999, and over 15,000 wounded, injured and sick. Most of the opposition in Chechnya comes from two rebel groups led by Basayev and followers of the late (killed last month Maskhadov. The more radical  Basayev gang is trying to take over all rebel operations, but is running into opposition from many Maskhadov followers. This has caused some Maskhadov followers to defect to the pro-Russian Chechen government. Basayev is also thought to be fighting over how much of the money from foreign supporters (in the Persian Gulf and Chechens overseas) his group gets.