RUSSIA: PUTIN THREATENS AIR STRIKES ON AFGHANISTAN

(23 May 2000) Russian/Nat XFA Russia might launch air strikes against Afghanistan if that country continues its alleged aid to Chechen separatists, according to a senior Kremlin official. Sergei Yastrzhembsky, the presidential spokesman for the Chechnya war, said Russian intelligence had learned that the Taliban, signed an agreement with Chechen envoys to assist the rebels by providing fighters and weapons. Meanwhile, at a military ceremony in the Kremlin, Russian president Vladimir Putin reiterated his determination to restore full government control over the rebel republic. Russian President Vladimir Putin at a military ceremony on Monday. Putin presented a personal military flag to Sergei Shoigu. Shoigu is the deputy prime minister and head of the Russian emergency situations ministry - the semi-military body that controls disaster relief and civil defence in Russia. Shoigu is also one of Putin's closest allies, heading the pro-government Unity Party which polled successfully in last winter's elections to the Duma, or lower house of parliament. During the ceremony Putin spoke about the ongoing battle between Russian forces and Chechen rebels. Russian forces, driven out of Chechnya in a 1994-96 war, entered Chechnya in September after militants based there seized villages in the neighbouring Russian region of Dagestan. And after about 300 people died in apartment bombings in Moscow - acts the Russian government blamed on Chechens. Putin promised peace for his people. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "People should know and be confident - they will not be abandoned in time of need, they will not be left to their fate. The ordinary citizens of the Chechen republic should feel this, feel the care and attention of the state for them. The people are fed up with chaos that reigned in that region for many, many years and they lay a lot of hope on us." SUPER CAPTION: Vladimir Putin, Russian President Meanwhile a top Kremlin official said that representatives of Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, Taliban officials and suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden had met in Afghanistan about two weeks ago. Sergei Yastrzhembsky is the presidential spokesman on Chechnya. He alleged that the Chechens and Bin Laden signed a protocol to send 70 to 100 Islamic mercenaries to Chechnya. Bin Laden allegedly masterminded the 1998 attacks on the U-S embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The United States later launched cruise missile attacks on suspected terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. Yastrzhembsky added that President Putin had considered the possibility of using air power to destroy terrorist bases in Afghanistan during a trip to Central Asia last week. And discussed the idea with leaders of countries bordering Afghanistan. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "I would not exclude that preventative measures will be taken (against terrorist bases in Afghanistan) if there should be a real and direct threat to the national interests to Russia or to any of our allies in the area (Central Asia) with whom we share a friendly relationship. As was mentioned in the press conference in Tashkent after Vladimir Putin's working visit , it is a real possibility if the situation should develop in a negative manner. " SUPER CAPTION: Sergei Yastrzhembsky, presidential spokesman on Chechnya However, Yastrzhembsky denied reports by Russian news agencies on Monday that Russian fighter jets had bombed a column of Afghan mercenaries trying to cross into Chechnya from neighbouring Georgia. But he said the trucks carried local fighters. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...