Chechen fighters take several hundred people hostage in Moscow, demand end of war in Chechnya(Prague Watchdog) 23:00 GMT - A group of several dozen Chechen fighters supposedly led by Movsar Barayev seized a theatre in Moscow and took several hundred people hostage. The fighters demand an end of the war in Chechnya and the withdrawal of Russian troops from their republic.
The seizure of the building, which is located in the southeastern part of the Russian capital, took place in the evening, during the performance of the "Nord-Ost" musical. The fighters, who include women, later released children and allegedly also people of Caucasus origin. Their supposed commander - Movsar Barayev - is a close relative of killed Chechen field commander Arbi Barayev, who was notorious for kidnapping in Chechnya and who was believed to have links to the Russian security services.
Russian security forces evacuated the surroundings of the building and launched talks with the fighters, who are threatening to blow the building up if anyone tries to storm it. In line with an order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, an operative staff was established to control the operation. The operative staff is led by Mr. Pronichev, first deputy of the head of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
During the first war in Chechnya (1994-96), Chechen fighters made similar raids on civilian buildings and took civilians hostage outside Chechnya as well, in order to make the Russian leadership end the war in their country. An attack in the Russian capital is unprecedented, however.
Russia launched its present military campaign in Chechnya in autumn 1999 after a group of Chechen fighters led by Shamil Basayev raided the neighbouring republic of Dagestan. In spite of the pressure from the West and human rights organizations, the Russian leadership has thus far been refusing to solve the conflict in Chechnya in a political way.
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