Press commentators in Russia trumpet the death of the most wanted Chechen rebel warlord, Shamil Basayev, as a great victory.
He is variously described as a "beast", "the last Mohican of Chechen separatism" and "a cowardly jackal".
TATYANA GRITSENKO IN VREMYA NOVOSTEY
This person was not just the most odious, charismatic and elusive of all the Chechen separatist leaders. For over 10 years he was the real symbol of Russian terror and living proof of the impotence of the federal authorities.
EDITORIAL IN BUSINESS DAILY VEDOMOSTI
The destruction of the last Mohican of Chechen separatism... will make the life of militants more difficult. They will find it harder to find new recruits and sponsors. However, his death does not remove the main reasons breeding terrorism in the Caucasus.
VADIM RECHKALOV IN MOSKOVSKIY KOMSOMOLETS
They have destroyed a powerful, expert, intelligent and truly extraordinary enemy, whose military successes have punctuated almost all the wars in the Caucasus... They have destroyed a man who has directly affected the destiny of our country and our authorities over the past 10 years.
A political victory lies in the fact that Basayev was destroyed in a planned and ingenious operation by Russian special services. The special operation allows our special services to recapture the initiative from the current Chechen security services... By killing Basayev, our special services restored their dignity and the moral entitlement to full control in Chechnya.
ANDREY PILIPCHUK IN KRASNAYA ZVEZDA
The murderer of children in Beslan and the number one terrorist undermining stability in the North Caucasus has finally been destroyed. Shamil Basayev was killed like a cowardly jackal without putting up dignified resistance. This time, even his loyal dogs - his bodyguards - did not save him. At last, a beast in human appearance who shed so much innocent blood got what he deserved - death.
YAKUB SULTYGOV, SVETLANA KAMYSHINA IN NOVOYE IZVESTIYA
It does not happen often that so many people simultaneously express joy at somebody's death.
IVAN SUKHOV IN VREMYA NOVOSTEY
One can hardly consider 10 July 2006, the day of Shamil Basayev's death, victory day in a war which Russia has been fighting in the North Caucasus for many years now. It is nevertheless an important date... Basayev's destruction is, beyond dispute, a moral victory... the liquidation of Basayev is not the end but rather the beginning of a new, big job.
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaux abroad.
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Chechnya's bright side
