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Chechen Leader Says 'Rat' Rebel Chief Is Likely Dead

Rebel leader Doku Umarov is mostly likely already dead or will be soon, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov said.

"He's a rat," Kadyrov said, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, reported Interfax.

"He committed crimes, persuaded our youth to follow him, but now the Chechen people know that he is Satan, an enemy of the people, of Islam and an enemy of all of mankind."

Umarov, the self-proclaimed leader of the Caucasus Emirate, a recognized terrorist group since 2010, in January urged his followers to use "maximum force" to thwart the Winter Olympic Games to be held in Sochi in 2014.

Kadyrov said that Chechnya was "much safer" than Moscow and that his North Caucasian republic was the "most peaceful region."

Umarov, recognized as a terrorist by Russia, the United Nations and the United States, claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on the Moscow Metro in 2010 and on Domodedovo Airport in 2011.

Umarov has been declared dead on several occasions by Russian security services and media, most recently in March 2011.

The United States offered a reward of up to $5 million for Umarov's capture in 2011.

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