Chechen leader certain that antiterrorist operation will end soon

GROZNY, April 1 (RIA Novosti) - Russian authorities will take quick action in bringing the counterterrorist operation in Chechnya to an end, the North Caucasus republic's president said on Wednesday.

Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee decided on Tuesday to end the operation. It discussed formally ending the campaign, and starting the withdrawal of around 20,000 Russian Interior Ministry troops from the republic.

"I'm sure that the restrictions relating to the counterterrorist operation will be lifted in the near future. I can see no reason for any delays here. The war ended a long time ago," Ramzan Kadyrov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

He said he did not expect the situation in the region to deteriorate as a result of this.

"There is just a bunch of thugs running around [in Chechnya], but we will soon mop up that scum with a little help from the Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service," he said.

FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov earlier said that at least 67 militants had been killed and 233 detained in special operations in the North Caucasus since the start of this year.

Russia started its antiterrorism campaign in Chechnya in September 1999, deploying special police units, carrying out frequent police sweeps, and increasing security at key facilities.

Although the active phase of the antiterrorism campaign in the North Caucasus officially ended in 2001, periodic bombings and clashes between militants and federal troops still disrupt Chechnya and nearby regions, particularly Daghestan and Ingushetia.

Kadyrov previously said: "There are no objective reasons that would hinder the official recognition of the fact that the goals of the counterterrorist operation have been achieved, and tasks carried out."

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev instructed Bortnikov on March 27 to consider ending the counterterrorist operation in Chechnya.