TEXT: Rebel website claim on Chechen campaign against Russia

(Reuters) - The following statement was posted in Russian on the Chechen rebel Web site www.kavkazcenter.com and translated by Reuters.

"The editorial of Kavkazcentre has received an electronic mail signed by the commander of the Battalion of Martyrs "Riyadus-Salikhiyn" in which it is stated that the mujahideen of this unit carried out a martyrs' operation in Nazran and carried out a major subversive action in Russia, disabling the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro-electric dam.

"Kavkazcentre publish the entire text of the statement unabridged and in full:

"In the name of Allah, all Merciful and all Forgiving:

"A decision was taken at the start of the year at a meeting of the council of the mujahideen of the Emirate of the Caucasus, led by Caucasus Emir Doku Abu Usman, to activate an economic war against Russia on its territory.

"To carry out these tasks, subversive groups were created and sent to a host of Russian regions with the aim of carrying out industrial sabotage.

"The priority targets laid out for them are gas pipelines, oil pipelines, the destruction of electricity stations and high-voltage power lines, and sabotage at factories.

"In the name of Allah, through our efforts on August 17 an act of sabotage, long in the making and thoroughly thought out, was carried out at the Khakasia region's Sayano-Shushenskaya hydro-electric power plant, the largest in Russia.

"An anti-tank mine on a timer was planted in the turbine room, and its explosion caused enormous damage, greater than we anticipated.

"The result halted the hydro-power station completely, and caused losses to Russia worth many billions of dollars.

"The worry among the infidel leadership showed that this operation dealt a heavy blow, and this work will continue to be carried out in the name of Allah.

"On the same day, August 17, in the city of Nazran, the Riyadus-Salikhiyn Shahid battalion carried out an operation to destroy the occupying puppet gangs of the Neighborhood Interior Ministry Precinct and the City Interior Ministry Precinct.

"At exactly 9:06 in the morning, an automobile filled with explosives penetrated the gates of the precinct buildings, after which the mujahid behind the wheel detonated the explosives.

"The explosion and resulting fires destroyed a large part of the buildings and incapacitated the fleet of armored cars in these departments used by the infidels and apostates.

"But the primary damage was inflicted on the apostates gathered for the so-called line-up, in the center of which the car was blown up.

"According to various accounts coming in from the apostates, the explosion killed everyone in the line-up, and in this group there were no less than 50 people.

"We declare our responsibility for carrying out these operations, in the planning and execution of which we made every effort not to hurt the local Muslims who may have been close by.

"To this end, we limited the amount of explosives, seeking to prevent the destruction of the nearby five-storey apartment building.

"But as was later discovered, this house is mainly inhabited by families of apostates, some of whom were wounded.

"We did have the option of simply laying the same amount of explosives near the city precinct and avoiding the death of the mujahid, but in order to limit the number of civilian victims we decided in favor of carrying out the Shahid operation.

"The aim of the mujahid belonging to Riyidus-Salikhiyn was not to destroy the building but the apostate personnel, and by the Will of Allah, he was able to carry out exactly this goal.

"So far, many of the apostates are being counted among the 'missing', their relatives are storming the hospitals and morgues, even though their bodies were ripped apart into little fragments, which were burned up in the ensuing fire.

"The apostates of the city and neighborhood precincts made their careers on torturing and humiliating Muslims, taking part in operations in the forests as part of the 'mopping-up' operations and storming the homes of the mujahideen.

"We wish once again to appeal to all those who decided that by working within the structures of the infidels and apostates they are not hurting Islam, all those who came to them to work for money -- quit now before it is too late.

"Today we are giving you the chance for an amnesty and to peacefully leave the service of the infidels, after which we will cease searching for and destroying you.

"Consider whether you want to risk your life and the lives of those close to you for the sake of the apostates, whether you want to be among the people liable to be killed.

"Lay down your arms and return to your homes, work and earn money in the ways permitted under Sharia, and you will once again have a calm life."

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"-Shahid Battalion Riyadus-Salikhiyn"