At the same time the rebel commander, Chechen veteran Shamil Basayev, announced a holy war against the "Russian infidel" , who had subjected the Dagestanis to 140 years of "the law of the Devil and his servants" .

The following are statements taken from the Respublika Dagestan government website and the Chechen Kavkaz-Tsentr website on Friday 13th August:

Dagestanis condemn rebels "with wild animal grins"

Dear brothers and sisters! Using the name of Allah and Islam as a cover, extremists from the neighbouring republic came to our land bearing weapons and captured a number of peaceful villages in Botlikh and Tsumadinskiy Districts.

The intruders, who have many terrible crimes on their conscience and who are up to their eyeballs in blood, have set themselves the task of carrying out a forcible coup d'etat in our republic and enforcing their own fiendish regime here. They want to turn Dagestan into a second Chechnya at all costs.

They do not care about the sufferings and worries of ordinary people, they yearn for new victims, money and power.

Having chosen the path of war, they are depriving their children and relatives of their future, and condemning them to mental anguish, physical suffering and material deprivation.

These people, who bear the grin of wild animals, have no historical memory, they have forgotten about the Dagestani and Chechen Imam Shamil and his desire that all the people of the Caucasus should live in peace and neighbourliness with Russia.

Brothers and sisters! At this difficult time of ordeals, we are obliged to discard all minor grievances, close ranks and say a decisive "No!" to the intruders.

All our words and deeds should be aimed at the speedy eviction of the militants from Dagestan.

We cannot allow the criminals, who left their native country and republic long ago and who have forgotten their mothers and wives, relatives and close friends, to become masters of Dagestan.

The Dagestanis, who for various reasons have found themselves in the enemy's camp, still have the chance to think better of it and return to a peaceful life.

Truth is on our side!

Signed: Representatives of the communities of the republic's Avar, Dargin, Kumyk, Lezgin, Lak, Russian, Tat, Tabasaran, Rutul, Tsakhur, Agul, Azerbaijani, Chechen and Nogay villages.

Dagestani government calls on people to fight insurgency

An appeal by the State Council, People's Assembly and the government of the Dagestani Republic to the Dagestani people.

Esteemed Dagestanis! As you know, several hundred armed bandits of different nationalities, who represent religious-extremist forces, have recently travelled into Dagestan from the territory of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and invaded several settlements in Tsumadinskiy and Botlikh Districts. During armed clashes with bandit groups, several policemen were killed and many were wounded. Some of the residents of Botlikhskiy and Tsumadinskiy Districts were forced to leave their houses.

The events that have taken place in Tsumadinskiy and Botlikhskiy Districts have become unquestionable proof of the far-reaching destructive plans of the extremist forces against Dagestan and its constitutional government. They are a blatant and barefaced challenge to the multinational Dagestani people and to every resident.

The wave of indignation at the actions taken by the extremist forces is expanding throughout the republic. At numerous meetings, rallies and appeals by peaceful citizens to the leadership of the Dagestani Republic and of the Russian Federation, demands are being voiced to ensure their security and constitutional rights.

Many citizens, especially young people, are joining self-defence detachments on a mass scale and are demonstrating their readiness to head to Botlikh and Tsumadinskiy Districts to liquidate the bandit units and restore the law and order.

We want to remind those who are making an attempt on the honour and dignity of Dagestan and its citizens that nobody has ever managed to enforce extraneous rules on the Dagestanis. The Dagestanis have always defended their motherland with courage and dignity.

We are sure that the multinational Dagestani people, devoted to the age-old traditions of their ancestors, will also be wise enough now to overcome the difficulties of the current alarming time with dignity and will be able to adequately rebuff the enemies and traitors bringing war to the Dagestani land.

The authorities of the Dagestani Republic and of the Russian Federation, as well as the local self-government bodies, are taking all measures to neutralize the armed extremist groups and stabilise the social-political situation.

Today, at this responsible and alarming hour, we are calling on Dagestanis to be vigilant and to observe calm and spiritual firmness. A lot will depend on our discipline, assiduity and readiness to display our patriotism.

The State Council, the People's Assembly and the government of the Dagestani Republic will do everything to defend the constitutional government, peaceful life, civic rights and freedoms. The strength and authority of the law will triumph over the entire territory of Dagestan.

Signed: Magomedali Magomedov, chairman of the State Council of the Dagestani Republic. Mukhu Aliyev, chairman of the People's Assembly of the Dagestani Republic. Khizri Shikhsaidov, chairman of the government of the Dagestani Republic.

Islamic commander proclaims holy war on Russians

In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate!

Muslims of Dagestan! For 140 years Islamic Dagestan has lived under the occupation of the Russian infidel.

For 140 years Dagestan has been ruled by the law of the Devil and his servants.

For 140 years Muslim Dagestan has been humiliated.

The reason for this was the fact that we had strayed from Jihad and acknowledged the authority of the infidels over us.

The situation has changed today. Muslims, who believe in the Great God, in his Koran and Judgment Day, have taken up weapons in order to restore the honour and dignity of Muslims and carry out the will of God.

For many decades our heroic ancestors fought on the path of God against the infidels in order to defend their Islamic Motherland.

There is not an inch of land in Dagestan where the blood of our fathers has not been shed.

For 10 years the infidels were able to develop a whole tribe of Muslims who had sold the honour and dignity of their fathers, forgotten God, His mercy and His wrath. They exchanged God for so-called constitutional order.

Today the Dagestani mojahedin are dying for the sake of God while the traitors are dying for the sake of the infidel constitution. Think about how great the difference is between their fates. One goes to paradise and the other to hell. And how shameful and agonising is the latter's fate! Muslims of Dagestan!

Remember who you are and whose descendants you are.

The Dagestani mojahedin have begun a holy war for the sake of God.

Our resolve is firm. We want victory or paradise. And we, God willing, will liberate Dagestan from the infidels.

The cause of Imam Shamil is in the hearts of the mojahedin. Fear is in the hearts of the traitors. Drive the Russian aggressors and their stooges from your villages and towns. Establish God's sharia'h and you may be saved. Henceforth and forever more Dagestan is restoring Islamic sovereignty on its territory.

Signed: The amir of the joint command of the Dagestani mojahedin, Shamil Basayev.

Rebels prepare terrorism charges against Russian commanders

Special decree

In connection with the demands of the shari'ah of God the joint command of Dagestani mojahedin (JCDM) decrees:

1. The formation of a shari'ah tribunal of the JCDM

2. That the shari'ah tribunal of the JCDM conduct an investigation into the criminal activity of the Russian armed forces and political figures, and also their proteges among the leaders of the occupying regime in Dagestan

3. That an investigation will be held into the instances of:

• State terrorism
• Armed opposition to the establishment of the shari'ah of God
• Premeditated murder of Muslims

• Anatoliy Kornukov - commander of the Russian airforce
• Anatoliy Kvashnin - chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation
• Vladimir Rushaylo - interior minister of the Russian Federation
• Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov - commander of the Russian Internal Troops
• Magomedali Magomedov - chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Dagestan
• Said Amirov - mayor of Makhachkala
• Magomedtagirov Adilgerey - interior minister of the Republic of Dagestan
• Vladimir Smirnov - head of the Federal Security Service in the Republic of Dagestan

Signed: The joint command of Dagestani mojahedin