Chechen rebel leader says he is not stepping down, will continue “killing God’s enemies”

Chechen rebel leader revokes resignation

MOSCOW — The leader of Islamist militant separatists waging an insurgency in Chechnya and neighboring Russian provinces has revoked his own resignation, saying he is ready to continue killing.

Doku Umarov has claimed responsibility for a string of terror attacks including the bombing of the Moscow subway that killed 40 people.

He said in a video posted on YouTube late Wednesday that an earlier announcement in which he handed authority for the grouping of North Caucasus militants to a subordinate was “annulled.”

He also called that announcement “fabricated.” There was no explanation.

In his resignation video, posted days earlier, the 42-year-old Umarov said he was too tired to continue fighting.

His latest address says he wants to continue “killing Allah’s enemies.”