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Evidence against Chechen leader rules out peace talks
Moscow, Nov 1: Russian officials played crackly tapes of intercepted telephone conversations for journalists yesterday, part of a Kremlin effort to prove that Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov was behind last week`s hostage crisis at a Moscow theater - and cannot be trusted as a partner for peace talks.
"There was other clear evidence that Mr. Maskhadov was
fully aware of the developments and the people in the
auditorium acted with his knowledge," Yastrzhembsky said,
though he offered no further proof of Maskhadov's involvement
in the raid that led to at least 160 deaths.
Moscow has sought to erase any distinction drawn by
foreign governments between rebel commanders such as Basayev
and those who serve as political representatives, including
Maskhadov and his aides. Denmark yesterday arrested
Maskhadov's foreign envoy, Akhmed Zakayev, at Moscow's
request.
Yastrzhembsky said the alleged evidence against Maskhadov
and Zakayev essentially ruled out any peace negotiations over
Chechnya.
Bureau Report