14:15 2002-10-26
Special Operation Brings Popularity to Putin
First responses to the hostage release operation in Moscow last night appear.
The first responses to the special operation held in Moscow last night appear. Head of the Chechnya administration Ahmad Kadyrov expressed his strongest approval of the actions of the Russian leadership. In his words, “the world has no examples of special operations held so competently and effectively as the recent hostage release operation in Moscow.”
Ahmad Kadyrov says he never doubted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would pass “the most adequate and correct decision to save the people.” NEWSru.com informs that the head of the Chechnya administration is sure that the last night’s events will rally the Russian population around the president even closer.
“The terrorists have made the grossest mistake. They expected to slap Russia in the face; however, on the contrary, the authority of the country on the international scene has increased many times. Russia demonstrated that it was resolute in its struggle against terrorism, and neither the president, nor the government will give this hard line up,” Ahmad Kadyrov says.
Terrorists seized during the storming are currently being interrogated at the Prosecutor’s Office; the identities of the terrorists, those killed and alive, are being established now. Witnesses, hostages, and the terrorists themselves are giving testimonies concerning all events starting with the hostage taking and finishing with the storming.
Fifteen shocked people have been delivered to Moscow hospital #15. MK-Novosti correspondents inform that one girl died in the hospital; she hasn’t been identified yet. Two boys and one girl were delivered to Moscow’s Filatovskaya hospital; one boy is in a grave condition.
It was reported earlier that two men and a young woman died on the way to hospital; it is very likely that these people became poisoned with the gas used in the storm.
Russian radio Echo Moskvy informs with reference to the press-service of Nord Ost musical (the musical was performed on the night when the theatre was attacked) that the administration of the musical has exact information only about 24 actors of the total number of the 97 actors acting in the musical. They are Director General of the Nord Ost project Georgy Vasilyev, 11 children acting in the musical, two coaches, and ten male actors. They are all alive. Information about musicians and technical personnel of the theatre is being ascertained.
To receive psychological help, relatives of the hostages can call +7 (095) 201-7070; for information about the state of the people taken to hospitals, please call +7 (095) 375-1302.
ITAR-TASS informs with reference to sources in the United Group of Troops’ headquarters, a large-scale special operation has been launched in Chechnya. “Special forces of the army are searching the republic for all kinds of terrorist groups.” Three terrorists have already been killed near the settlement of Novogroznensky after they attempted to put up resistance to the special forces. Servicemen say that food supplied by the Danish charitable organization to the republic was found near the place where the three terrorists were killed. Documents, weapons, explosives, and drugs were withdrawn from the terrorists.
Some time earlier, a video tape was demonstrated, in which Aslan Maskhadov actually claimed responsibility for the terrorist act in Moscow.
Based on materials of Russian news agencies
Photo by NTV-TV.Ru
Translated by Maria Gousseva
Read the original in Russian: http://pravda.ru/1/last_news_2.html
_________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963