Putin praised for not giving in to guerrillas

'A strong and dangerous, inhuman and cruel enemy ... Nowhere in the world can people feel secure until it is vanquished. And it will be vanquished'

POLITICIANS applauded President Vladimir Putin's refusal to bow to a guerrilla demand that Russian troops withdraw from Chechnya.

It is a popular hardline approach which was a major factor in Putin winning the presidency more than two years ago. Parliament speaker Gennady Seleznyov said Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov and his supporters "will soon wave the white flag" of surrender. In a speech to the nation on Saturday night, Putin asked for forgiveness for the deaths of so many hostages. However, he blamed what he called international terrorism for the theatre siege.