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Aggressive Russian patrolling continued in Chechnya on 25 July. The North Caucasus Combined Federal Forces conducted 12 sweep operations in mountainous districts in southern Chechnya and in the northern Shelkovskaya district over the past 24 hours. Twenty-four armed rebels who offered resistance were killed and 36 people were detained on suspicion of carrying out subversive and terrorist acts in Chechnya. Thirteen firearms, 64 artillery shells, 39 mines, five anti-tank grenade launchers, 110 grenades, nearly three kilograms of explosives and 15,000 cartridges were seized. 

A group of 10 to 12 rebels was destroyed by federal artillery fire when it was trying to cross into the Dagestan from Chechnya, near the village of Kharachoi. The pin-point artillery strike was directed by a reconnaissance group in forest-covered mountains. This group was later identified as being led by Abu Khakib (call sign Marvan), with Khakib's and the other bodies retrieved for positive identification. Small arms and ammunition were seized in the course of the operation. - Adam Geibel

See PBS WIDE ANGLE program's take on the Chechen Wars and it's overflow into Georgia at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/