UK Supports Russia's Antiterrorist Campaign In Chechnya
Great Britain has given its strongest support to Russia's military operation against Chechen separatists, The Times says. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw who is in an official visit to Moscow said Russia was facing "a real terrorist threat from the rebels seeking to break away from Russia".
Straw also said that "there is no doubt that links between some extremist Chechen groups and Osama bin Laden exist. It is extremely important to break these links".
The statement reflects a sharp change of the general position of the West over Russia's Chechen campaign that has been criticized very hard so far. Now the West is hailing Russia as a "key ally'' in the war against terror. Whilst American and Britain jets are bombarding Afghanistan Russia may be released from their criticism.
Although Russia supports the U.S.-led military action it has no plans to widen its participation in the international anti-terror coalition.
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