The running fighting in Chechnya against the Russian army is far from being designated as international terrorism, but it is a conflict has a historical nature, the U.S. ambassador to Russia said.
In an interview with the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper published on Sunday, February 29, Alexander Vershbow said Al-Qaeda network of Osama Bin Laden “hijacked” the Chechen cause to serve its own interests.
Denouncing the so-called involvement of Al-Qaeda in the conflict, Vershbow stated that the U.S. exchanged intelligence information with Russia to cut off finances and ammunitions to the small mountainous republic.
However, the American diplomat said Washington does not call for a dialogue with what he called “terrorists” including Chechen fighter Aslan Maskhadov whom he claimed failed to distance himself from terrorists. Maskhadov categorically denied in October 2003 any links between Chechen independence fighters and Al-Qaeda network, asserting Chechens are waging a legitimate war to liberate their land and boot out Russian troops.
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-02/29/article05.shtml
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