Moscow, Russia, Sep. 30 (UPI) -- Chechen authorities have informed Moscow they are closing in on two men wanted in connection with the deadly school attack in Beslan, The Independent reported.
Ramzan Kadyrov, deputy prime minister in the Chechen region's government, said he "had every reason to believe" Aslan Maskhadov and his associates were trapped by his forces in a forest in southeast Chechnya.
Mashkadov is the self-declared rebel Chechen president, and was thought to be with his most senior bodyguard, Akhmed Avdorkhanov.
The Kremlin blames Maskhadov and the Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev for the Beslan school massacre and has posted a $10 million reward for information leading to their "neutralization." However, Maskhadov denies involvement in the Beslan attack, pointing instead to Basayev.
A massive operation to catch Maskhadov and Basayev was launched last Friday by more than 1,000 Moscow-backed militia, the newspaper said. Officials say more than 20 rebels have been killed in the area since Monday, and five militiamen are reported dead.
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