A decade after federal forces drove a separatist government from power in Chechnya, Moscow is struggling to contain an insurgency that seeks to carve an Islamic state out of Russia`s North Caucasus region.
Chechen-born Umarov, 47, claimed responsibility for masterminding the January suicide bombing of Moscow`s Domodedovo airport, which killed 37. He has also promised a year of "blood and tears" for Russia ahead of parliamentary elections in December and a presidential poll in 2012.
Security will be a main priority leading up to the elections for both President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who led the country into a second devastating war against Chechen rebels in 1999.
In the 17-minute-long video Umarov, who styles himself the Emir of the Caucasus, says his insurgency has been strengthened by overcoming recent divisions that saw three high-level militants split from his Caucasus Emirate last year.
"We want to assure you that our jihad is starting a new chapter, inshallah," he said wearing camouflage and an Islamic skullcap and sporting his trademark ginger beard in the video posted on Kavkaz Center www.kavkazcenter.com.
"We are calling on all mujahideen in the Caucasus and in other territories so that all differences stay in the past and that all our strength, will and power is directed at attesting to the word of Allah and against our enemy."
At the end of the video he embraces the high-ranking militants -- Hussein Gakayev and Aslambek Vadalov -- who had split with Umarov.
Their allegiance to Umarov will likely consolidate authority within the insurgency, which has suffered from divisions and power struggles.
The United States has offered a $5 million reward for information leading up to the arrest of the militant.
The third militant who had renounced allegiance to Umarov was killed by security forces in April. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
