CHECHNYA - Chechen separatist leader Mr Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev yesterday dismissed reports of his death as the "wishful thinking" of his Russian opponents.
"A human being can only plan, but it is God who decides," Mr Yandarbiyev said.
"As you can see, talk of my death has turned out to be exaggerated."
Mr Yandarbiyev's phantom "death" was reported by Russian news agencies, who said he was killed in a gun battle with rival rebels on Sunday night.