Chechens behind hijack, Russian minister confirms

Chechen rebels were behind the hijack of a Russian plane which ended today when Saudi security forces stormed the aircraft, Russian…

Chechen rebels were behind the hijack of a Russian plane which ended today when Saudi security forces stormed the aircraft, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Avdeyev confirmed.

"Today it is already clear that this terrorist act in Turkey and Saudi Arabia was not the work of individuals but of Chechen terrorism," the minister said.

He added that the pro-independence guerillas had been driven to such action because of "the ineffectiveness of Chechen terrorism in the international field" as well as their wish "to assert themselves in the region."

AFP