Bomb blast cuts gas supplies to 214,000 in Russia

[phantom power]

MOSCOW: A bomb attack on a pipeline on Wednesday cut gas supplies to more than 200,000 people in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Dagestan.

The bomb went off at 08:09 pm Moscow time (1709 GMT) at the 496th km of the Mozdok-Kazimagomed pipeline in Dagestan's Derbent area. A fire and gas supply suspension ensued, a spokesman for the regional emergencies ministry said.

Around 214,000 people living in five rural districts of Dagestan and the city of Derbent have been left without gas supplies. Local temperatures stood around 10 degrees Celsius.

Russia's mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, particularly Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen an upsurge in militant violence lately. Five policemen were killed last week in a suicide bombing in Makhachkala, capital of Dagestan.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2010-01/13/content_9316368.htm

[izquierdista]

1. Fact to remember

In the former Soviet Union, most of the gas distribution lines are above ground, unlike in the U.S., where gas lines are almost always buried. Makes it easier to work on them, but also, easier to sabotage them.

[pscot]

2. Interesting source

China just opened a new pipeline from Turkmenistan,I believe. And they have Muslim issues of their own.