Russia braces itself for terrorist attacks

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, FEB. 22. The Russian security forces have been put on alert throughout the country in anticipation of possible Chechen terrorist attacks on Wednesday.

February 23 is marked in Chechnya as a day of mourning to commemorate a mass deportation of Chechens by the Soviet dictator, Josef Stalin, in 1944. In the first war in Chechnya in 1994-1996, Chechen militants marked the day by staging guerilla attacks on Russian forces and Moscow fears they would strike again this year.

The Interior Minister, Gen. Vladimir Rushailo, announced on Tuesday that his forces had tightened security around the country. ``The Interior Ministry has taken all necessary measures to forestall any terrorist attacks Chechen militants threatened to organise on Feb. 23,'' said Gen. Rushailo on a visit to Chechnya.

Russian forces on Tuesday banned all movement of civilians across Chechnya and closed for two days the checkpoints on Chechen borders to prevent rebels from crossing to neighbouring Russian regions along with Chechen refugees. Extra security precautions have been taken at airports and train stations across Russia, and all police officers have had their leaves cancelled till the end of the month.

Though earlier this year one of the most famous Chechen commanders, Khattab, threatened to ``hit Russian cities,'' the Chechens have not specifically warned of attacks on Wednesday. Their most direct threat has been addressed to Russia's Acting President, Mr. Vladimir Putin. Another Chechen warlord, Shamil Basayev, last month posted a message on a rebel web site saying he had issued a fatwa promising to pay $ 2.5 millions to anyone who would kill the Russian leader.

``The one who fulfills this sentence will win the mercy of Allah. The blood of the Chechen people will be paid for by Putin's blood,'' says the fatwa dated January 16.

The security officials said they had reason to believe Chechen- trained terrorists were planning bomb attacks and a plane hijack to mark the anniversary of the deportation of 600,000 Chechens in 1944 for their alleged collaboration with the invading Nazi army. Thousands died during a long journey to Siberia and Kazakhstan in unheated cattle coaches.

Moscow blamed Chechen rebels for four bombings of apartment houses last fall that killed 300 people, although no arrests have been made so far. The Federal Security Service has since reported the discoveries of stores of explosives and terrorist training camps in Chechnya. Police have urged people to be vigilant and report anything suspicious, such as an unattended plastic bag in a public place.

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Section  : International
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