Those who had military experience had taken the lead in drilling the armed para-military formation, and created an effective central command and communication system.

"The Security Council pointed to the need to continue efforts to disarm and eliminate illegal armed formations," the Russian press service said in a statement.

Raduyev was tried on 18 different charges, including terrorism, banditry, hostage-taking, organization of murders and organization of illegal armed formations.

In rare cases, clashes between Italians involved partisans and fascists of various armed formations.

Neither side had disciplined armed formations, and commanders and soldiers were often acting in their own interests.

The leaflets read: "The commanders of the illegal armed formations want to draw your towns, settlements and streets into the chaos of war and violence.

The Germans were short of police and military forces in Serbia, and came to rely on poor armed Serbian formations to maintain order.

It was typical of the Soviet system that there would be three armed formations loyal to three separate ministries.

Under his leadership, Latvia's first armed formations became battle capable.

If it is necessary, Russian troops will enter Grozny to disarm illegal armed formations if they resist.