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Putin Sacks Several Top Military, Security Officers

19 July 2004 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin today dismissed several top military and security officers.

Russian news agencies say Putin dismissed General Anatolii Kvashnin as military chief of staff and General Vyachelsav Tikhomirov, the head of Interior Ministry forces.

The reports say he also sacked Anatolii Yezhov, deputy director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), who was responsible for the North Caucasus region, and Mikhail Labunets, commander of the North Caucasus military district.

The Russian military, Interior Ministry, and FSB all are involved in Russia's campaign against separatist rebels in Chechnya.There was no immediate explanation for the dismissals. They came after last month's coordinated attack by militants on police facilities in Ingushetia, which borders Chechnya, that left 90 people dead.

(AP/ITAR-TASS/Russian Service)

Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org