Chechen rebels planning govt in exile, Russia told

Chechen rebels planning govt in exile, Russia told
AGENCIES

MOSCOW, DECEMBER 17: The Chechen rebels have stepped up efforts to form a ``government in exile'', Interpol is reported to have informed Moscow.

Russia had approached Interpol to apprehend Chechen fugitives including Chechnya's former foreign minister Movladi Ugudov, according to Novosti.

Ugudov met Osama Bin Laden in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, a few days ago to secure finances for the entire exercise.

Quoting Interpol sources, the news agency said Ugudov plans to move to Islamabad with other rebel ideologues where they will seek the assistance to put a government structures in place.

The government-in-exile will function from Kabul with Ugudov at its helm.

Aslan Maskhdov, the current Chechen president, will continue to stay in Chechnya and steer guerilla operations against Russian troops, sources told Novosti.

Reports said that rebel field commanders Shamil Basayev, Salman Raduyev and Jordanian Wahabi leader Khattab have fled Grozny. Moskhadov left the Chechen capital some timeback.