Russian Reports: Chechen Rebels, Mercenaries still Hiding in Pankisi

Russia?s Counter-Terrorism Operations Center in the North Caucasus alleged that a group of Chechen rebels and foreign mercenaries are still based in Georgia?s north-eastern mountainous gorge of Pankisi, RIA Novosti news agency reported on November 29.

?One group [of rebels] consists of 200 supporters of Ruslan Gelaev [a Chechen warlord who was killed by Russian troops in February] and this group is based in the villages of Duisi and Khalatsani. The second group ? consisting of up to 50 militants ? is based in the northern part of the gorge, in the village of Omalo,? RIA Novosti reports quoting unnamed official from the Russia?s Counter-Terrorism Operations Center in the North Caucasus.

The official also said that there is a third, 30-strong group of militants, consisting mainly of foreign mercenaries ?speaking Turkish? near the village of Birkiani.

?The bandit groups are commanded by the activists of the international terrorist organizations Abu Atiya and Abu Rabiya,? the source told the Russian news agency.

No information about Abu Rabiya is available; however, the name of Abu Atiya first emerged in 2003, when U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell cited at the UN Security Council session Abu Atiya as the leader of the Al-Qaida terrorist network?s Pankisi cell.

RIA Novosti also reports quoting an unnamed official at Russia?s Counter-Terrorism Operations Center in the North Caucasus, that the militants ?intimidate? the local Kist (ethnic Chechens, citizens of Georgia) population in the gorge to enroll them in the armed groups.

Georgian officials made no comment regarding the report so far.