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Basayev threatens to target Moscow Olympics
Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev said on Tuesday Olympic athletes would be at risk from attacks by his forces if the Russian capital won the right to hold the 2012 Games."No one could guarantee the athletes' security, even if our forces conducted extremely careful strikes on Moscow. But there should be no doubt that we have bombed and will bomb Moscow," he said in a statement on a rebel Web site (www.kavkazcenter.com). Basayev's comments came as campaigning for the right to stage the Games entered its final 24 hours, with officials from the five candidate cities gathered in Singapore to make presentations to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Basayev has a habit of making statements intended to embarrass Russia, and his words will be viewed as a blow by Moscow, already seen as the outsider in the race against New York, London, Paris and Madrid ahead of Wednesday's IOC vote. "Today the war, which was started by Russia, still continues. Moscow is the capital of a warring state and this city is a zone of legitimate military activities for our mujahideen (holy warriors)," Basayev said. "The Olympic Games do not interest us much. Our people have other problems. Only Allah knows what will be in 2012, and whether the world will care about sport or whether (Russia) will even exist," Basayev said. Moscow is to close off the city centre for an open-air party to mark the vote on Wednesday, and a giant screen on Red Square will allow Russians to watch it live. Top politicians and celebrities were scheduled to attend the screening, which will also feature a concert. Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-07-05 |
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