Military

DATE=7/07/03

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=MOSCOW BLAST

NUMBER=3-724

BYLINE=STERLING

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

Putin Blames Terrorists for Deadly Bomb Blasts in Moscow

INTRODUCTION

Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed Monday that he will show no mercy, and "make no concessions", to separatist rebels whom he blames for a double suicide bombing in Russia's capital Saturday. The blasts killed more than a dozen people and injured many more. Hayley Sterling has the details.

NARRATOR

Most of the thousands of people attending an annual outdoor concert in Moscow Saturday escaped injury after Russian security forces say two women wired with explosives blew themselves up just outside the entrance.

Eighteen concertgoers were killed, including one child. At least 30 were injured and were rushed to a hospital.

Russian president Vladimir Putin denounced the dual attacks, saying it was the work of international terrorists. He canceled two trips and met with Kremlin ministers Monday. After offering condolences to victims' relatives, Mr. Putin vowed to take swift retaliation against Chechen rebel separatists whom security officials say carried out the attacks.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

"Not a single government in the world will be pushed around by terrorists. Nor will Russia. The first step in such a direction would mark the beginning of the collapse of the state and the number of victims will rise dozens, hundreds, thousands of times."

NARRATOR

Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov blamed Chechens opposed to President Putin's plan to hold a local presidential election in Chechnya this October. Mr. Putin has repeatedly said Chechen separatists are funded by international terror groups.

VLADIMIR PUTIN

"Even before, we had never doubted that the terrorists operating in

the Caucasus were linked with international terrorist organizations. Today, after the latest attacks we can say that the organizations operating in Chechnya are not only linked with international terrorists but have become an integral part of them, perhaps the most dangerous part."

NARRATOR

To avoid mass panic, festival organizers chose not to announce the attacks.

Hayley Sterling, VOA-TV