The declaration of the Islamic Shura, or council, of Dagestan, was distributed to reporters in the Chechen regional capital, Grozny. Representatives of the Shura told reporters in Grozny the body had met in the Botlikh region of Dagestan, which has been held by guerillas for four days.

The declaration called on Chechen Islamic organisations to support ``the Muslims of Dagestan in their struggle against unbelievers for the Liberation of the Islamic state of Dagestan from occupation''.