Combined federal forces in Chechnya to be replaced by securityoperational group

     MOSCOW.  May  6  (Interfax-AVN)  -  An operational group of Russian
security  forces  is to replace the combined federal forces in the North
Caucasus,  a  source  with the Russian Defense Ministry told Interfax on
Wednesday.
     "As  the  counter-terrorist  operation  regime in Chechnya has been
lifted,  the combined federal forces are to be disbanded by September 1.
Instead  of  it,  an  operational  group  including  servicemen from the
Defense Ministry, the Interior Forces, and other security agencies is to
be set up," it said.
     "The operational group is necessary in case a new counter-terrorist
operation  regime  is imposed if the situation in Chechnya worsens," the
source said.
     With  the  liquidation of the combined federal forces, other forces
staying  in  Chechnya  on  a temporary basis will also be withdrawn, the
source said.  "This  mainly  concerns  Interior  Forces and some Defense
Ministry units," it said.
     The  withdrawal  of  the  troops  will  require optimization of the
central  military  commandant  office  and the reduction of the military
prosecutor's office structure in Chechnya, the source said.
     "The  implementation  of  these  plans will certainly depend on the
situation in the Chechen republic, which is now far from stabilization,"
the source said.
http://www.interfax.com/3/491985/news.aspx