This has been happening a lot lately.
Chris Doss The Russia Journal ---------------------------- Report: 17 Chechen rebels surrender their arms
MOSCOW (AP) - A group of 17 militants in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, tired of roaming the mountains and killing people, have surrendered their arms in exchange for security guarantees, a news report said Sunday.
The rebels turned over 17 automatic rifles, four portable grenade launchers and a handgun to authorities in the village of Kadi-Yurt in the Gudermes region of Chechnya, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
"We are all sick with this crazy life of roaming the mountains and shooting at people," one of the rebels identified as Rizvan Selvikhozhyayev told reporters at the surrender site, the ITAR-Tass report said.
After the arms were turned over, the militants were allowed to leave for home, while authorities conduct investigations to see if they were wanted for terrorist activity.
The Russian authorities have promised in the past that rebels who surrender their arms will not be prosecuted if they were not involved in acts of terrorism or abductions.
Russian forces withdrew from Chechnya after losing the 1994-96 war, and returned in fall 1999, after rebels raided Dagestan and after a series of apartment house bombings killed some 300 people.