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| Caucasus |
| Blast in Grozny; Fate of Chechen president, Russian general unclear |
| 2004-05-09 |
| Hot from CNN: There are conflicting reports as to the fate of Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov and the top Russian general in Chechnya, Valery Baranov, following a blast that rocked the republic’s capital Grozny. Interfax news agency initially quoted a source in the Russian command as saying Baranov had been killed in the attack on a packed stadium on Sunday morning. But it later quoted an "official source" as saying the general had been seriously injured and was undergoing an operation. Baranov is the most senior commander of Russian troops in the North Caucasus region that includes separatist Chechnya. Sources from the Chechen Interior Ministry reported that Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov was also killed in the blast. However, Ziad Sabsabi, head of the Chechen administration, told Itar-Tass news agency: "According to my information, Akhmad Kadyrov received injuries of moderate seriousness, but his life is not in danger." The explosion happened just beneath the VIP stand in the stadium in Grozny crowded with people celebrating Victory Day. The Russian Emergencies Ministry said a journalist was killed and 25 people were injured. CNN-International is showing video from the site. Reporters at the site say a land mine was placed under the VIP reviewing stand. It was a long fall. Developing ... |
| Posted by:Scott |