Shamil Basayev, a leader of Chechen militants, is hiding somewhere in the North Caucasus, Chechen President Alu Alkhanov told a Thursday press conference at Interfax\'s main office. \"The whereabouts of Basayev are an interesting question which should be addressed to law enforcement agencies. According to me, Basayev is somewhere in the North Caucasus,\" he said. \"Solution to this problem and the neutralization of a number of his abettors and himself will help stabilize Chechnya and the North Caucasus at large,\" Alkhanov said. Asked whether Basayev may be outside Chechnya, he said, \"absolutely.\" \"Basayev and his abettors do not respect administrative borders. They have far-reaching plans,\" he said. \"This is what we keep saying: dear colleagues, friends, the situation is overwhelming the Chechen Republic, we should intensify our fight in all North Caucasian republics,\" he said. (Interfax)