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Head Of FSB Says Al-Qaeda In North Caucasus

6 October 2004 -- The director of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has said the Al-Qaeda terrorist network is active in Russia's volatile North Caucasus.

Nikolai Patrushev told Russia's NTV television last night that Al-Qaeda is not a "myth" but a reality on Russian territory.

Patrushev said many Chechen separatist leaders had ties to Al-Qaeda. He named Khattab, Abu al-Walid, and Abu Khabs.

He also said the FSB had foiled 500 terrorist acts this year, but said special forces needed to work more effectively.

Patrushev's remarks come as a two-day international seminar on terrorism is set to wrap up today in the capital, Moscow. At the meeting, Russia unveiled plans to establish a new regional organization to fight money laundering and cut off funding to terrorist groups. It will include China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

(AFP)

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