Blasts in Grozny, Basayev warns of more attacks

Meanwhile, Basayev, who masterminded the Beslan school siege, warned of more Chechen attacks. In an interview published today, he said capturing rebel leaders like him would not help Russia as Chechen rebels operated in small independent groups.

‘‘If Putin begins to abide by international law, then automatically we will do so,’’ he said in comments carried on rebel websites. ‘‘We are ready to abide by international law, this would even suit us by protecting civilians. But unlike President Maskhadov, we don’t want to fight in such a way unilaterally.’’

A manhunt for the top leaders has so far been fruitless, and Basayev said his capture would not halt the war. ‘‘Our warriors are self-sufficient, no one needs to teach them anything,’’ he said. ‘‘I just need to send letters and my personal participation is not needed, it is enough to meet once or twice a year. This autonomy is I think our greatest success.’’

Russia has promised a $10 million reward for anyone who helps capture Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov, the nominal leader of Chechen resistance who was also blamed by Russia for the Beslan attack.

However, Basayev denied Maskhadov’s role in the attack. ‘‘I met Maskhadov at the end of June, I gave him weapons and material, I wanted to find a common approach to the methods of fighting the war but did not manage to,’’ he claimed.