CHECHEN SEPARATISTS TO WAGE WAR AGAINST AMERICANS IN IRAQ?

WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 18 (RIA NOVOSTI CORRESPONDENT VASILY VOROPAYEV) - Extremists in Iraq are going to use militants from Chechnya in operations against the American military, The New York Post writes on Wednesday with reference to knowledgeable sources in American structures.

According to the American daily, a data CD seized from a captured Al-Qaeda man contains information on Abu Musab al-Zarkawi, commander of the Ansar al-Islam group, proposing sending to Iraq about 2,000 militants from Chechnya.

The newspaper reports that earlier al-Zarkawi was the key figure in moving militants to Chechnya from training camps in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime and is still maintaining contacts with them.

The al-Zarkawi group has assumed responsibility for 25 attacks on truck convoys in Iraq after the announced ending of hostilities on May 20 last year.

Sources said that al-Zarkawi may be in need of militants from Chechnya for boosting up the terrorist campaign on the eve of the passing power to Iraqis in Iraq scheduled for June 30.