Moscow, Aug 02: Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that terrorist acts will not stop what the Kremlin says are efforts to reach a political settlement in Chechnya and bring peace to the war-ravaged region. In a telegram offering condolences to relatives of the victims of a suicide truck-bomb attack that killed at least 42 people at a military hospital, Putin called the bombing "yet another confirmation of the of inhumanity and cruelty of the bandits who are trying to destabilise the situation in the northern Caucasus" - the region in southern Russia that includes Chechnya.
"But the terrorists will not be able to impose their criminal will," said the telegram, distributed by Putin's press service.
"Their bloody evildoing will not stop the process of political settlement and the restoration of normal peaceful life."
Yesterday's attack in Mozdok, in a region adjacent to Chechnya, was the latest blow to the Kremlin's efforts to portray the situation in the region as returning to normal.
Putin has refused to negotiate with rebel leaders and has taken a series of steps this year that the Kremlin says are designed to bring peace to Chechnya, including a march constitutional referendum that cemented its status as part of Russia, an amnesty offered to some rebels who hand in their weapons and a regional presidential election scheduled for October five.
Putin's statement was in line with declarations he has made following previous attacks blamed on Chechen rebels. Bureau Report