MOSCOW -- A Moscow jury found a Chechen woman guilty of terrorism late Monday for possessing explosives that killed a bomb disposal expert as he tried to defuse it outside a popular restaurant.

Zarema Muzhakhoyeva, 23, was tried on charges of terrorism, preparing and attempting to commit a crime and illegal possession of explosives. A duty officer at the Moscow City Court confirmed the conviction but declined further comment; it was not immediately known what sentence Muzhakhoyeva could face.

Muzhahkoyeva was detained in July after her strange behavior attracted the attention of security guards at a central Moscow restaurant, and a bomb was found in her purse. A bomb expert was brought in to defuse it, but it went off and killed him.

The blast happened five days after a double suicide-bombing at an outdoor rock concert in Moscow killed 15 bystanders.

In an interview with the newspaper Izvestia in February, Muzhakhoyeva said she had decided not to go ahead with a suicide bombing and did her best to attract attention to herself without provoking punishment from minders she said were following her and whom she believed could detonate the bomb by remote control.

Muzhakhoyeva told the newspaper that she was hoping for an acquittal under a law lifting criminal responsibility from people who warn of a terrorist act or its preparation.

Her lawyer, Natalya Yevlapova, said that her client broke down after the verdict was pronounced, the Interfax news agency reported.

"After the announcement of the verdict, Zarema cried out 'In 20 or 25 years I'll return and do what I hadn't wanted to do," Yevlapova was quoted as saying.

Russia's Federal Security Service says many of the female bombers who have carried out attacks in and around Chechnya and in Moscow in the past year have been drugged or otherwise forced into their work.

But Chechens and human rights advocates argue that the bombers are women whose husbands, fathers and children have been killed -- many in the two wars Russian forces have fought against Chechen rebels in the past decade -- and feel they have nothing more to lose.

Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press

eng.kavkaz.memo.ru Caucasian Knot 6/4/2004

No students sent down, university officials say

Over 10 students at the Ingush State University who participated in a meeting at the Government House in Magas recently, have been reprimanded by the university administration. The Caucasian Knot correspondent learnt it from one of the university students. "The question of sending students down has not been brought up at all. We just talked to our students and explained that it is illegal to arrange unauthorized actions and manifestations," a university official said via phone.

To remind, students of the Ingush State University hold a protest rally in the republican capital on 29 March, demanding that circumstances of the murder of their friend be investigated and those guilty of the recent attack on a settlement be punished. Over 100 people gathered at the building of the Government of Ingushetia that day, but the police dispersed them.

According to the recent data, the 25 March missile attack on the outskirts of the Ordzhonikidzevskaya village left two people dead. Criminal investigation in the incident has been launched by the article "Deliberated Murder". It has been established that the victims undertook no provoking actions at the moment of the attack.

Author: Malika Suleymanova Source: Own correspondent

Assassination attempt on Zyazikov

Today, about 9:45 AM Moscow time when leaving Nazran, on the outskirts of the capital's republic Magas an explosion took place along the route of automobile cortege of President of Ingushetia Murat Zyazikov. Possibly, a bomb exploded in one of the automobiles, which were parked on the edge of the road. Several guards of the President got slightly wounded.

At present on the spot of this incident works an investigation group of the representatives of procuratorship, MVD and FSB of Ingushetia.

In regards to what has happened the President's  press-secretary Issa Merzhoyev gave a statement. "Several versions are considered. But it is obvious that this is an attempt of some forces to destabilize situation in Ingushetia. These are forces which aren't pleased by positive changes that are taking place in Ingushetia today" - said Merzhoyev.

This statement of Merzhoyev raises a lof of doubts. In the recent months respect for the President Ingushetia has fallen to its lowest level. In the republic rallies and other protest actions have taken place, on which the inhabitants of republic expressed their indignation because of extrajudicial violence and hostage taking, committed by special services, they also voiced criticism in the address of Zyazikov. And it was needed to take urgent measures in order "to untie" hands against these forces, dissatisfied by present state of affairs in Ingushetia, and also to justify repressions and lawlessness, which are used against inhabitants of the republic. And today's attempt leaves behind many [unanswered] questions.