Russian federal forces have completed the second stage of the anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya and are beginning the third stage, General Valery Manilov, Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff, announced in Moscow November 26.

The aim of the third stage, he said, is to eliminate the terrorist bands from their bases in the Chechen foothills and to restore governmental control and the normal life of civilians as well as to create adequate conditions for the displaced persons to return to their homeland.

General Manilov stressed that the key part of the program is to be completed before the new year.

He said that political and economic issues are the principal goals, and the conditions for achieving them are to be provided by the military. (Xinhua)