A special police unit loyal to administration head Kadyrov\'s son, Ramzan, together with Russian troops, engaged in fierce fighting, using heavy artillery and military aircraft against a group of Chechen fighters in the village of Avtury in Shali Raion on 20 August, Interfax and chechenpress.com reported. Interfax quoted a Chechen Interior Ministry spokesman as saying that the Chechen force was commanded by Arab mercenary Abu-Walid, and that it was surrounded. Chechenpress.com reported on 21 August that the Chechen fighters broke through the surrounding troops and escaped to the mountains, having killed 25 of Ramazan Kadyrov\'s men and no less than 15 Russian servicemen. (RFE/RL)