RUSSIAN Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov today said al-Qaeda was operating in the breakaway republic of Chechnya, but did not directly link the group to a Moscow subway bombing last week that killed at least 39 people. "The Al-Qaeda connection is something that is there," Ivanov said, speaking on the sidelines of an annual international security conference in Munich. "This is equally applicable to financial backing. The connection of these terrorists with the Taliban and al-Qaeda has long ago been proved."
Ivanov did not speculate on the subway bombing in Moscow, saying that an investigation was under way and no further conclusions could be drawn at this point. Russian President Vladimir Putin has linked the morning rush hour attack to Chechen guerrillas. Ivanov ruled out any negotiations with Chechen rebels, saying: "Whoever hopes we will start negotiations, let them go and start negotiating with (al-Qaeda leader Osama) bin Laden and (Taliban spiritual leader) Mullah (Mohammad) Omar."
| Maybe the Washington Post will. I don't think Bush will. |
Ivanov said Moscow would never negotiate with the separatists and would instead "destroy these people calmly and systematically". |