Russian forces say Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov has been killed. Russian television showed pictures of a body resembling that of Mr Maskhadov, 53, in a pool of blood in Chechnya. President Vladimir Putin has asked for further identification. However, Mr Maskhadov\'s envoy in London, Akhmed Zakayev, later confirmed the death. Mr Zakayev said resistance in Chechnya would continue despite the death of Mr Maskhadov, seen as the most moderate of Chechnya\'s rebel commanders. Few details have been released of the Russian operation at the settlement of Tolstoy-Yurt, near the Chechen capital, Grozny. Gen Ilya Shabalkin, a spokesman for Russian forces in the Caucasus region, earlier told news agencies that Mr Maskhadov\'s body had been found in a bunker. But it was not clear whether he had been killed by Russian forces. Chechnya\'s Moscow-appointed Deputy Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov told Interfax news agency the intention had been to take Mr Maskhadov alive, but he had been killed as a result of his bodyguards\' carelessness in handling their weapons. \"Carry out additional identification tests, report back,\" Mr Putin ordered. \"If this information is confirmed, grant state awards to all those involved in the operation,\" the Russian leader said. \"We have to gather our forces to protect the people of the republic and citizens of all Russia from the bandits,\" Mr Putin said. Russian also television showed pictures of a grey-bearded and shirtless corpse in a pool of blood. (BBC)