MAHACHKALA, January 15. (RIA Novosti). The body of a third serviceman who had fallen into a precipice during an operation to destroy armed bands in the Tsuntin District of Dagestan (a republic in the North Caucuses neighboring Chechnya) last December was recovered.
An assistant of the republic's Emergencies Ministry rescue team informed RIA Novosti that the remains were exhumed from a deep crevice. The bodies of the other two servicemen who plummeted into the same abyss were discovered and recovered earlier.
"After days of work in tremendously difficult conditions, rescuers exhumed another ten bodies of fallen rebels on January 13," the assistant added. "These bodies will be handed over to officials for identification." According to military data, more 30 rebels died and 5 were taken prisoner during the operation. The group, consisting of up to 40 well-armed and well-equipped men, intended to spend the winter in Georgia. The gang included foreign mercenaries.
