M A I N   N E W S

Chechen President killed in blast
Vinay Shukla

Moscow, May 9
Chechen President Akhmad Kadyrov was among 14 persons killed and 38 injured when a landmine explosion ripped through a stadium in the Chechen capital of Gronzy during victory day celebrations, the Emergency Ministry said.

Top Russian regional commander Valery Baranov was seriously injured in the explosion and is undergoing an operation, the Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by Radio Mayak.

The explosion which was triggered under a VIP-seat in the stadium critically injured Kadyrov, who died 30 minutes after the explosion.

A Reuters photo correspondent also reportedly died in the attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed retaliation for the attack. “There can be no doubt that payback is inevitable against those whom we are fighting today. It will be inevitable for the terrorists,” RIA Novosti news agency quoted him as saying.

The attack appeared to be triggered by Chechen separatists. It is an apparant sign to show that the Chechen resistance against Russian rule was still active.

The attack came on Russian Victory Day holiday, in which Mr Putin oversaw a military parade on Red Square in Moscow and vowed to fight terrorism.

Later, confirming Kadyrov’s death, Mr Putin said “This was a real, heroic man.”

He also appointed Sergei Abramov, the Chechen Prime Minister as the province’s transitional leader.

“Kadyrov passed away on May 9 on the day of our national holiday, Victory day,” the media quoted Mr Putin as saying.

Kadyrov, a former Chechen rebel during the 1994-96 Chechen war, was made President by Putin in March, after he switched alliance in the second Chechen war of 1999.

Kadyrov “proved there is a difference between bandits, terrorists and the Chechen people,” Mr Putin said.

Meanwhile, there are conflicting reports about the death toll.

According to a report in ITAR-Tass news agency, some 30 persons have died in the blast. — PTI