Russia to offer amnesty to Chechen militants who surrender
The planned amnesty is part of an effort to end armed resistance in Chechnya and the restive North Caucasus following the death last week of rebel leader Shamil Basayev, who was behind the deadliest terror attacks during more than a decade of nearly constant conflict in Chechnya. Federal Security Service Chief Nikolai Patrushev said Russia’s National Anti-terrorism Committee, which he heads, would work out a proposal for the amnesty and send it to parliament and President Vladimir Putin for approval. Full Story