Actuakky this is looking more and more plausible. Here's the Interfax wire reports.
Mar 8 2005 7:41PM Maskhadov's reported death accidental - Chechen minister GROZNY. March 8 (Interfax) - Russian forces planned to take separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov alive in a security operation on Tuesday, but he "was killed as a result of negligently handling the weapons of a bodyguard who was standing next to him," First Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov said.
"We were given the task of arresting Maskhadov. No one was going to eliminate him physically," Kadyrov told Interfax.
Mar 8 2005 7:18PM FSB head informs Putin about Maskhadov's death MOSCOW. Mar 8 (Interfax) - Federal Security Service (FSB) head Nikolai Patrushev met with President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday evening to inform him that Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov was reportedly killed earlier in Chechnya on Tuesday.
Mar 8 2005 7:11PM Maskhadov's body may be handed over to family GROZNY. March 8 (Interfax) - The body of Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, who was reportedly killed on Tuesday, will be handed over to his family for burial "if someone makes such a request," said Chechen First Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov.
"After legal procedures are completed, the body will be handed over to relatives if someone makes such a request," Kadyrov told Interfax.
Mar 8 2005 6:52PM Military says former Chechen president Maskhadov killed MOSCOW. March 8 (Interfax) - The Russian military said on Tuesday that Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, president of Chechnya between the two Chechen wars, had been killed.
Meanwhile, a top figure in Chechnya's pro-Russian administration denied any knowledge of Maskhadov's alleged death, while the Chechen prosecutor's office said the report about the separatist leader's supposed death was being checked.
Nu, zayats, pogodi!
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