CHECHNYA: CAMPAIGN OF TERROR AGAINST RUSSIA THREAT

Описание: (12 Sep 1999) Russian/Eng/Nat

Islamic rebel leader threatened on Sunday to unleash a campaign of terror against Russia.

He made these threats while speaking to reporters in his hide-out in the mountains of Chechnya.

A Jordanian born warlord that goes by the name of 'Khattab' commanded a several thousand-strong invasion force of Islamist rebels into neighbouring Dagestan a few weeks ago is aiming to create a pure Islamic state.

His reasons for the move were clear and simple.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"Russian troops are committing genocide against muslims in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Bosnia. We came here to protect our brothers in faith.
SUPERCAPTION: Khattab, Rebel leader

In the past days, as Russian troops took over the rebel's strongholds in Dagestan, Khattab ordered his troops to retreat to Chechnya.

From there he warned that from now on his groups will carry out terrorist acts in the heart of Russia.

SOUNDBITE: (Arabic)
"Even the Israelis are no committing the crimes against Muslims on the scale of the Russians in Dagestan. All the world is witnessing the genocide that is going on in Dagestan. There is no other choice than to fight."
SUPERCAPTION: Khattab, Rebel leader

Khattab endorsed a powerful explosion that destroyed an apartment building in Moscow on Wednesday killing at least 98 people and injuring hundreds.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"From now on we will not only fight against Russian fighter jets, tanks and such. From now on they will get our bombs everywhere! Let Russia await our explosions blasting through their cities! I swear we will do it!"
SUPERCAPTION: Khattab, Rebel leader

But he stopped short of claiming responsibility for it.

Russian investigators say the most probable cause of the explosion was a bomb with the equivalent power of at least 200 kilograms of TNT .

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