 Russia's most notorious terrorist, Shamil Basaev of Chechnya, has used his Web site to make statements both diplomatic and defiant. Since masterminding the hostage taking in the southern Russian town of Budennovsk during the summer of 1995, the radical Muslim leader has claimed responsibility for a series of terrorist acts that killed hundreds of Russians, Radio Free Europe reported Wednesday. This week the fugitive's Web site, kavkaz-center.com, posted the full transcript of an interview with a Globe and Mail reporter, in which Basaev expressed regret for the deaths of hundreds in Beslan, but also blamed Vladimir Putin for the catastrophe. Basaev also warned his men may resort to terrorism against the citizens of states whose leaders support Putin's Chechen policy. He repeated earlier denials of any links with al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, and also denied his men include numerous foreign mercenaries. All Russian Muslims, Basaev added, have an obligation to contribute materially to the jihad. |