By empty (3/4/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Akhmed-hadji Kadyrov escaped uninjured on the evening of 1 March when gunmen opened fire on his motorcade in the town of Argun, Russian news agencies reported only after a two-day delay. Three Chechen police officers and four of Kadyrov\'s bodyguards were reported killed in the attack, together with several of the attackers. Chechen Prosecutor-General Vladimir Kravchenko initially told Interfax that Kadyrov was not traveling in the motorcade, but Kadyrov later confirmed that he asked his driver to halt when the motorcade ran into what he termed an exchange of fire.

By empty (3/4/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Despite earlier denials, Moscow will send a naval group to the Persian Gulf, \"Izvestiya\" reported on 3 March. The Pacific Fleet has finished preparations to send warships including the cruisers \"Admiral Pantaleev\" and the \"Marshal Shaposhnikov\" to the Persian Gulf region, where they will rendezvous with a group from the Black Sea Fleet headed by the cruiser \"Moskva.\" According to initial plans, the Pacific Fleet group should have set sail at the end of February, but now an unidentified source at the fleet\'s command in Vladivostok told the daily that the exact start date for the mission will depend on the situation in the gulf and on the decisions of the country\'s political leadership.

By empty (3/3/2003 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov has introduced new rules for entering Turkmenistan and stay there to start March 1. Consular Sections abroad will send applications for entry visas to a commission that will check the applications and decide whether or not a visa should be granted. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov will head the commission, which is also to include the deputy foreign, national security, defense and interior ministers, the Federal Border Guard Service head and parliament and presidential administration members.