Putin Cancels Visits to Uzbekistan, Malaysia After Moscow Blasts

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 07, 2003

Putin Cancels Visits to Uzbekistan, Malaysia After Moscow Blasts

Russian President Vladimir Putin cancelled his planned visits to Uzbekistan and Malaysia due to the Saturday terrorist bombings in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported on Sunday.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Russian President Vladimir Putin cancelled his planned visits to Uzbekistan and Malaysia due to the Saturday terrorist bombings in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported on Sunday.

The series of suicide-bomber blasts, breaking out at the Tushino airfield in northwestern Moscow during a popular outdoor concert, killed 15 people, including the two female suicide attackers, and injured scores of spectators at the festive event,latest information from the Moscow Health Department said onSunday.

Putin was due to start a visit to Uzbekistan on Sunday.Uzbek President Islam Karimov, whom Putin informed about thecancellation by telephone, said he understood the Russian leader's reasons for staying at home.

Karimov extended deep condolences to families and friends ofthe terrorist act victims and expressed solidarity with the peopleof Russia, who have experienced a barbarian attack of international terrorism, according to Itar-Tass.

Karimov also expressed solidarity with the Russian people.Later in the day, Putin also had a telephone conversation with the Malaysian premier Mahathir bin Mohamad, whose country Putin planned to visit after his trip to Uzbekistan.

The Malaysian premier said he understood Putin's reasons and extended deep condolences to the people of Russia, who had suffered from the terrorist attack.

Putin and Mahathir expressed confidence that their countries would keep building up their relations.

Condolences also came on Sunday from Kazakh President NursultanNazarbayev, who told Putin by telephone that the bombings had shocked the Kazakh people, expressing a sense of solidarity withthe Russians and strongly denouncing the terrorist act.

Russian Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov on Saturday blamed theterrorist attacks on Chechen rebels, and suggested the blasts wereconnected with the Kremlin's announcement the previous day thatpresidential elections would be held in the rebel province in October.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Female Suicide Bombers Kill 17 in Moscow

Russia blames Chechen rebels on Moscow blasts

International Community Condemns Terrorism

Tripod Set Up in Deng's Hometown to Commemorate Anniversary of His Birth ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Regard Haphazard Spitting as most Disgusting Habit ( 3 Messages)

Chinese Mainland, HK Vows to Forge Closer Economic Ties ( 3 Messages)

Hu Jintao Addresses Symposium on "Three Represents" ( 3 Messages)

BBC, Downing Street Dispute over Weapon Dossier ( 3 Messages)