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News :: Globalization |
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Chechen Rebels Are 'CIA Paid Mercenaries Now Hold Hostages In Russia Including Two Americans' |
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by Turmeric
(No verified email address) |
24 Oct 2002
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"war by deception"
October 24 2002 at 02:41PM Moscow - Most of the rebels holding hundreds of hostages in a Moscow theatre are not Chechens but "mercenaries", the Moscow representative of the pro-Russian Chechen administration said on Thursday. |
"Most of the gunmen are mercenaries, we're sure of it," the Interfax news agency quoted Adlan Magomadov as saying.
"Witnesses said some of them spoke a Caucasian language, but not Chechen," he said, adding that the all of the hostage-takers except for two wore masks.
"We're going to help the special services and security forces to identify them," Magomadov said, adding that his office had asked prominent Chechens living in Moscow to help in the effort to free the hundreds of hostages.
Representatives of the Chechen diaspora had offered to take the place of some of the hostages
As many as 1 000 people were taken hostage late on Wednesday at a theatre in the southeast of the Russian capital by the rebels, who have threatened to blow up the theatre if Russia does not withdraw its forces from Chechnya.
According to www.kavkaz.org, the official website of the Chechen separatists, the leader of the commandos is Movsar Barayev, the nephew of slain rebel warlord Arbi Barayev, who was shot dead last year.
"A large number of young Chechens in Moscow are ready at any moment to participate alongside security forces in an effort to free the hostages," Magomadov said, noting that representatives of the Chechen diaspora had offered to take the place of some of the hostages. - Sapa-AFP |
