Arab volunteer fighter replaces killed Chechen rebel commander

Text of report by Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency web site

17 December: Amir Mukhannad became the new commander of a group of Muslim volunteers fighting in Chechnya against Russian occupation troops on 9 December after the death of Amir Abu-Khafs al-Urdini, Qoqaz.net has reported quoting a representative of the Chechen command.

Amir Mukhannad offered his condolences to Muslims and the family of Al-Urdini and said that every fighting mojahedin wanted to become a martyr. Amir Mukhannad said that jihad [holy war] continued in Chechnya and the Caucasus.

London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reports that Amir Mukhannad hails from a Gulf country and arrived as a volunteer to participate in the jihad in Chechnya about 10 years ago. Amir Mukhannad is about 35, the newspaper said quoting Islamic sources.