SeanAshi
03-14-2004, 12:45 AM
A senior Arab field commander has warned of a new wave of attacks in Russia in retaliation for Moscow's abuses in Chechnya.
In a tape broadcast by Aljazeera on Saturday, Saudi-born Abu al-Waleed said the campaign might depend on the outcome of Russia's upcoming presidential polls.
Al-Waleed said: "The enemies of God drop mines in the forests and, God willing, we will return them to the Russians and they will find them on their land and in the midst of their families."
He added: "But perhaps we may wait a little to see the upcoming elections. If they elect someone who declares war on Chechnya, then the Russians are declaring war against the Chechens and by God we will send them these (mines)... Not only these but also things that did not cross their minds."
The commander, wearing military fatigues and speaking in Arabic from a Chechen forest hideout, was shown picking up a "butterfly" mine from foliage. He said his fighters had found hundreds of them.
"We will return these to you (Russians)... You will, God willing, see hundreds of people crippled."
"If they elect someone who declares war on Chechnya, then the Russians are declaring war against the Chechens and by God we will send them these (mines)... Not only these but also things that did not cross their minds"
Abu al-Waleed,
Arab commander in Chechnya
'Terrorists'
Commenting on Abu al-Waleed's statement, former Russian diplomat Victor Ghoghi Kidzah described it as "provocative".
"The information aired was false," he said. "The threats indicate that these are mercenaries and terrorists... The Russian government and people reject these threats and they will retaliate.
"If a Russian sees this videotape, Putin's popularity would go up as he is fighting terrorism and supports rebuilding Chechnya."
Ghoghi Kidzah added the Russian parliament has announced it would pardon Chechen fighters who return to a "normal life".
And Badr al-Deen Bino al-Shishani, the head of Jordan's Arab Caucuses Centre, said Abu al-Waleed's statement would not serve the Chechen cause.
He said it did not represent the viewpoint of Chechnya's "moderate" leaders, and added "these reactions are beyond the control of the Chechen leadership".
****ing terrorist working overtime :bash:
In a tape broadcast by Aljazeera on Saturday, Saudi-born Abu al-Waleed said the campaign might depend on the outcome of Russia's upcoming presidential polls.
Al-Waleed said: "The enemies of God drop mines in the forests and, God willing, we will return them to the Russians and they will find them on their land and in the midst of their families."
He added: "But perhaps we may wait a little to see the upcoming elections. If they elect someone who declares war on Chechnya, then the Russians are declaring war against the Chechens and by God we will send them these (mines)... Not only these but also things that did not cross their minds."
The commander, wearing military fatigues and speaking in Arabic from a Chechen forest hideout, was shown picking up a "butterfly" mine from foliage. He said his fighters had found hundreds of them.
"We will return these to you (Russians)... You will, God willing, see hundreds of people crippled."
"If they elect someone who declares war on Chechnya, then the Russians are declaring war against the Chechens and by God we will send them these (mines)... Not only these but also things that did not cross their minds"
Abu al-Waleed,
Arab commander in Chechnya
'Terrorists'
Commenting on Abu al-Waleed's statement, former Russian diplomat Victor Ghoghi Kidzah described it as "provocative".
"The information aired was false," he said. "The threats indicate that these are mercenaries and terrorists... The Russian government and people reject these threats and they will retaliate.
"If a Russian sees this videotape, Putin's popularity would go up as he is fighting terrorism and supports rebuilding Chechnya."
Ghoghi Kidzah added the Russian parliament has announced it would pardon Chechen fighters who return to a "normal life".
And Badr al-Deen Bino al-Shishani, the head of Jordan's Arab Caucuses Centre, said Abu al-Waleed's statement would not serve the Chechen cause.
He said it did not represent the viewpoint of Chechnya's "moderate" leaders, and added "these reactions are beyond the control of the Chechen leadership".
****ing terrorist working overtime :bash: