Russian federal forces have started sweeping Chechnya's second largest city Gudermes and the Russian Flag has been raised there, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the midday of November 12.

Russian Interior Ministry forces supported by army formations started sweeping Gudermes at 10:05 a.m. Moscow time on Friday, said the provisional press center of the federal force in Dagestan, cited by the Interfax news agency.

Thursday night was calm partly thanks to the negotiations of the commander of the eastern group of the federal force General Gennady Troshev with city elders.