Russian Government Headquarters Evacuated After Bomb Threat

The staff of the Russian government house, the White House in Moscow, is being evacuated after a bomb threat was received by telephone, Russian news agencies said.

The evacuation began at 2:15 p.m. (1015 GMT) Friday, following an anonymous call received by police at 12:06 p.m. (0806 GMT) saying there was a bomb planted in the building.

Police said the building will remain vacated until at least 4:20 p.m. (1220 GMT).

The entire staff, including Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, had to leave the building, which is now being checked by anti-terrorist experts and special policemen.

The bomb threat call was made during a session of the commission for military-technical cooperation with foreign countries chaired by Kasyanov, Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov was quoted as saying.

During the meeting, Kasyanov told government members about the call, adding that the caller had warned the bomb would go off at 3 p.m.

Klebanov said the commission took the news very calmly. "The prime minister even joked that as the explosion was timed for 3 p.m., we had plenty of time to discuss all matters," he said.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/