Moscow - Russian forces have retaken all six mountain villages in Dagestan captured by Islamic militants from Chechnya two weeks ago, and are clearing mines before allowing their residents to return, according to an announcement by Russian military authorities yesterday.
The claim was indirectly confirmed by Mr Mahomed Tagayev, spokesman for the militants in the Chechen capital, Grozny. "The Islamic fighters have decided to adopt completely different tactics to avoid being targeted by mass bombing. From now they will be everywhere and nowhere. Purely military methods are giving way to military-political ones," he told the Interfax news agency.
The Russian breakthrough came after more than two weeks of intense artillery assaults, aerial bombing and rocket attacks from helicopter gun-ships. The militants were eventually overpowered after the Russians switched to highly destructive "volume bombs". These eject gas which is then ignited, burning up the oxygen in the air and causing changes of pressure which destroy the lungs, stomach, and vital organs.
The militants' spokesman admitted 37 fighters had died in the 18-day operation.