Authorities blame Basayev for Grozny bombing

Mar 19, 2003

ROSTOV-ON-DON - Russian prosecutors on Wednesday blamed one of the most hunted rebel field commanders for organizing the December truck bombing that destroyed the headquarters of the Moscow-backed government in Chechnya and killed at least 70 people.

"Evidence from the investigation shows that it was precisely (Shamil) Basayev who organized this crime," Deputy Prosecutor General Sergei Fridinsky said.

Basayev, who has played a leading role in both Chechen wars of the past decade, had already claimed credit for the attack - as well as sole responsibility for last year's hostage-taking attack on a Moscow theater in which 129 people were killed, almost all by the narcotic gas Russian special forces used to knock out the rebels.

Fridinsky said that some people who allegedly worked with Basayev on the Grozny attack are now in custody, but he refused to provide further details. Earlier, Fridinsky had said that three people had been charged in connection with the attack.

Suicide bombers in two trucks attacked the building in Grozny on Dec. 27, setting off devastating explosions that killed at least 70 people and wounded scores of others in the deadliest attack in Chechnya in months.

Meanwhile Wednesday, officials continued preparations for Sunday's referendum on a constitution for Chechnya that subordinates the region to Russian law. Critics say it is impossible to hold a fair vote in conditions of war and that no process that excludes the separatists will bring lasting peace.

Russian officials said that more than 5,000 Chechen police officers would provide security during the referendum, the Interfax news agency reported. Ruslan Atsayev, spokesman for Russia's Interior Ministry, also said that night patrols had been increased and checkpoints reinforced ahead of the vote.

The Kremlin, which refuses to negotiate with the separatists, hopes the vote will promote stability and further discredit militants, who have been urging Chechens not to participate.

Lt. Gen. Nikolai Staskov, chief of staff of Russia's airborne troops, was quoted as telling Interfax that after the referendum "the anti- terrorist operation should be replaced with a peacekeeping operation."

"This replacement will bring psychological relief to the Chechen population, which has lived under tension for almost 10 years," he was quoted as saying.

/The Associated Press/