Sleptsvosk, Dec 31: The pro-Russian chief of Alkhan-Kala village near the Chechen capital Grozny was gunned down in her own backyard by unknown assailants a witness told a news agency. It was unclear whether Malika Umazhayeva's assailants were rebels, who regularly attack pro-Russian administrators, whom they consider traitors.
In a separate incident, also yesterday, a rebel guerrilla was killed in a shootout in Grozny's Staropromyslovsky region, army officials told the Ria-Novosti news agency.
The guerrilla, identified as Magomed Akhmadov, had reportedly been involved in robbing the red cross's mission in Pervomaiskoye village, as well as other crimes, officials added.
Russia poured its troops back into breakaway Chechnya in October 1999 following a bloody war from 1994 to 1996 and they have been there ever since, with almost daily casualties of both the Russian and Chechen sides.

Bureau Report