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Chechen Rebels Promise to Free Foreign Hostages

Posted October. 25, 2002 23:07,   

한국어

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday local time that he could not accept the demand of Chechen rebels that the Russian military withdraw from Chechenya, but he would ensure that they could safely go to a third country if they release about 700 hostages they have held at a Moscow theater. But the rebels are continuously demanding the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Chechen, heralding the protraction of the hostage crisis.

Meanwhile, the Chechen rebels agreed to free 75 foreign hostages earlier the day, but they have not deliver on the promise even after 9 am, the time at which the hostages were supposed to be released, said the US general consul in Moscow.

He said that although the first round of negotiation the Russian government had with Chechen rebels broke down, he hoped that foreign hostages would be released soon.



Ki-Hyun Kim kimkihy@donga.com