Chechen field commander Shamil Basaev declared that militants will not attack Russian officials abroad

Chechen field commander Shamil Basaev declared that militants will not attack Russian officials abroad. Rather, they will focus on organizing terrorist attacks only on the Russian territory, reported "Al-Jazeera" Friday. Basaev told that Chechen militants have nothing to do with recent terrorist acts in Turkey, Spain and France. He also accused Russian authorities in spreading false information regarding Chechen separatists. "Our Chechen people will continue fighting inside Russia; however, we do not plan to conduct any terrorist acts outside the country's borders, even though we have such opportunity," noted Basaev. The Chechen warlord expressed his outrage in regards towards the murder of the former Chechen president Zelimkhan Yandarbiev in Qatar in February 2004. According to "Al-Jazeera", Basaev made the statement two days after the Qatar court had sentenced two Russians from the special services to life imprisonment. Qatar law-enforcement authorities do not doubt the fact that those two individuals had organized the president's assassination. "This case indicates very well who is a real terrorist and who isn't. I confirm that we do not plan any operations abroad in contrast to Russians, who killed our former president," commented the terrorist. In addition, Basaev thanked brothers-Muslims, including Turks, who helped Chechen refugees abroad.