Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev claimed he managed the militant attacks in the southern Russian city of Nalchik that officials say left at least 139 people dead, according to a statement posted on a Chechen rebel-connected website.

Security forces today freed seven hostages held by alleged Islamic extremists in a police station and a store, trying to clear the remaining rebels who simultaneously attacked police and government buildings across the southern Russian town of Nalchik yesterday.

Security forces today freed an unspecified number of police officers from a police station where they had been caught in a battle with Islamic extremists, while security forces stormed a store held by the last rebel holdouts in Nalchik, the regional president’s press service said.