Chechen fighters will continue their "jihad" against Russian forces following the death of rebel warlord Shamil Basayev in an explosion, a spokesman for the separatist movement said Tuesday. "A new generation of Muslims who will never give up on their jihad and who know their enemy will replace those who leave. The jihad continues," Movladi Udugov said in a written statement published on the Kavkazcenter.com website used by separatists. "The OSCE, Council of Europe, the US president, Moscow Helsinki Group, Russia's chief rabbi, the Russian Orthodox church and other infidels have expressed their joy," said Udugov, a former deputy prime minister of Chechnya's separatist government believed to be living in hiding outside Russia. "So it must be because we are enemies," continued Udugov, calling Basayev "a hero" and "a martyr." For more than a decade, Basayev helped mastermind Chechnya's independence struggle, routing Russian troops in numerous battles, and also claiming responsibility for a series of bloody terrorist attacks.