The Hindu : International : Russia will hit terror bases `worldwide'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 09, 2004

International

International

Russia will hit terror bases `worldwide'

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, SEPT. 8. Russia is prepared to launch pre-emptive strikes on terrorist bases anywhere in the world, a top general said today.

"As for launching pre-emptive strikes on terrorist bases, we will carry out all measures to liquidate terrorist bases in any region of the world," said the Chief of Staff, Gen. Yuri Baluyevsky, in televised remarks. He told reporters that Russia would use such means as may be dictated by the situation. "This does not mean we will carry out nuclear strikes."

A senior parliamentarian said the warning about pre-emptive strikes was not an empty threat. "Russian foreign intelligence service has identified several terrorist bases outside Russia where militants are being trained for Chechnya," Gen. Nikolai Beloborodov, member of the State Duma defence committee, told the Echo of Moscow radio station.

$10-million reward

The Russian Security Service, FSB, today offered a $10-million reward for information leading to the `neutralisation' of Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basayev, the two Chechen rebel leaders accused of ordering the hostage-taking raid on a school in Beslan, North Ossetia, in which 338 people died, half of them small children.

Russia's Prosecutor-General today confirmed that the bloody showdown in the hostage-taking drama had been provoked by an accidental explosion in the school seized by militants.

"When they (the militants) started rewiring their bombs for some reason, an explosive occurred. This triggered panic inside the building, (and) may hostages tried to flee; militants opened fire on them," Vladimir Ustinov said in an investigation progress report to the President, Vladimir Putin, that was broadcast on Russian TV.

Moscow warned Washington today that its willingness to meet some rebel elements from Chechnya could sour relations between the two countries.

The situation in North Ossetia, where mass funerals of the hostage-taking victims continued for a third day on Wednesday, continued to worsen. At a protest rally in the regional capital Vladikavkaz today, North Ossetia's leader, Alexander Dzasokhov, promised to sack his Government within two days and did not rule out his own resignation.

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

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Russia will hit terror bases `worldwide'

`Iraqi civilian toll could cross 11,000'

Is war on terror being lost?

U.S. deaths in Iraq cross 1000-mark

Poll gives Kerry narrow lead

U.K. soldier charged with Iraqi murder

Maldives expresses `desire' to lift emergency

Genesis probe headed for Earth

Poll gives Kerry narrow lead

Bangladesh Minister refutes allegations

Ties with India will progress steadily, says Talbott

It will take time to resolve Kashmir issue, says Powell

Relief in Pakistan over outcome