Russia: June 3, 2005

Archives

The new leader of the main Chechen rebel movement, Abdul-Khalim Sadullaev, says his men will no longer take hostages, attack civilians and, in general, do anything that smacks of terrorism.  Sadullaev succeeds former Chechen President  Aslan Maskhadov, who was killed by Russian troops three months ago. More and more Chechens are siding with pro-Russian groups. Chechens are tired of the violence, and as has happened many times in the past, peace is breaking out, at least until the next cycle of violence arrives.