Moscow, May 16: Russian President Vladimir Putin today vowed to crush rebel resistance in the breakaway Republic of Chechnya in his annual state-of-the-nation address. "We will certainly finish this task. People in Chechnya will live a normal, civilized life," he said to clapping from some 1,000 lawmakers from both houses of Parliament and politicians.

Putin thanked Chechen voters for approving a constitutional referendum in March that sealed the restive southern territory's status as part of the Russian federation.

"Today I especially thank the Chechen people, for their courage, for not allowing themselves to be frightened, and not allowing themselves to be frightened today."

"The referendum showed at last that Chechens consider themselves an unalienable part of a united multi-ethnic Russian nation," the Russian President said.


After two bloody suicide attacks in war-torn Chechnya this week that killed nearly 80 people, Putin admitted that the Chechen guerrillas were not about to give up their struggle with Russian forces.

"All this is happening in difficult conditions. It is clear that the bandit remnants will try through threats, killings and terrorist acts, to frighten inhabitants of the Republic, to sabotage the advancing political process," he said.
But the Russian leader said the casualties suffered by federal troops and civilians -- estimated to run into the thousands since the current conflict began in October 1999 was a price worth paying to preserve Russia intact.
Bureau Report