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Chechen President killed in bomb attack

By Vladimir Radyuhin

BLOODY SUNDAY: Police officers lift the Chechen President, Akhmad Kadyrov, his face covered in blood, minutes after an explosion ripped through the VIP stand in a stadium in Grozny. Mr. Kadyrov and at least 32 others were killed in the blast. _ AP

MOSCOW, MAY 9. Chechnya's President, Akhmad Kadyrov, was killed in a bomb attack in the capital Grozny today. Russia's top military commander in the region, Colonel-General Valery Baranov, was among those injured in the blast that tore through the VIP stand at a packed stadium during a parade on Victory Day, a holiday celebrating Russia's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

At least 32 persons, including the head of Chechnya's Parliament, Husein Isayev, died in the attack. About 46 persons were injured. Security officials said the bomb appeared to have been planted near the VIP stand, but a Chechen rebel website claimed the attack had been carried out by a female suicide bomber. Another unexploded bomb was later found at the stadium and a woman carrying explosives on her person was detained, officials said.

This is not the first time Chechen rebels have staged a bomb attack during V-Day celebrations. In 2002, a bomb exploded during a Victory Day military parade in Kaspiisk, Dagestan, which neighbours Chechnya, killing 43 persons, including 12 children.

Sunday's attack came around the time the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, was overseeing a Victory Day military parade in Moscow. Later, Mr. Putin met Mr. Kadyrov's son and chief bodyguard, Ramzan, in the Kremlin to pay glowing tributes to his father. "He was a heroic man and he died undefeated," the President said.

Mr. Kadyrov's assassination has dealt a painful blow to Mr. Putin's efforts to pacify the rebellious region.

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