The Hindu : International : Putin sees Chechen links to Al-Qaeda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

International

International

Putin sees Chechen links to Al-Qaeda

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, AUG. 31. Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, said the bombing of two Russian airliners last week proved a link between Chechen terrorists and Al-Qaeda.

"The fact that an international terrorist organisation linked to Al-Qaeda took responsibility for blowing up the two planes shows once again the connection between destructive elements in Chechnya and international terrorism," Mr. Putin told reporters. He was speaking after tripartite talks with the French President, Jacques Chirac, and the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

Investigators found traces of explosives in the wreckage of both planes, and voiced suspicion that two female Chechen suicide bombers — one on each aircraft — had brought down the planes, killing 90 persons. Last week, an Al-Qaeda linked group called "Islambouli Brigades" claimed responsibility for downing the Russian planes.

`Joint effort needed'

Flanked by the leaders of France and Germany, Mr. Putin today reiterated the importance of joint efforts for fighting international terrorism.

"The latest events in the world, in Russia, in Iraq — the problems our French partners have encountered — demonstrate the danger of international terrorism for all the countries of the world," he said at the press conference in Sochi. "We need joint efforts for dealing with the threat."

He said Russia would continue to combat rebels in Chechnya, and his Government was prepared "to continue dialogue with any forces interested in a political solution in Chechnya." On Sunday, Chechens elected a Kremlin loyalist as their President in snap elections called after the previous President was killed by a bomb blast in May.

Solidarity

The French President, Mr. 0Chirac, voiced support for Mr. Putin's policy on Chechnya. "A political solution is necessary and this is what Russia wants but a political solution has a limit," Mr. Chirac said at the news conference following talks with Mr. Putin. "It is a limit that everyone can understand and that no-one can seriously contest ... the territorial unity of the Russian Federation."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International