Putin beefs up state control in terrorism fight

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin strengthened his control over Russia yesterday with a series of far-reaching initiatives which he said were aimed at combating terrorism.

The Russian President convened a meeting of his cabinet, top security and military officials and regional governors following the disastrous end to the school siege in Beslan that left more than 330 dead.

“The organisers and perpetrators of the terror attack are aiming at the disintegration of the state, the break-up of Russia,” Putin told the officials gathered in government headquarters, known as the White House.

Mr Putin said control from the central government was key and strong political parties must become one of the tools for mobilising the entire society to conduct the fight against terrorism.

He recommended changing the system of electing the lower house of parliament, the state Duma, to a purely proportional system.

Mr Putin also said he would propose legislation to the state Duma before the end of the year providing for regional governors to be elected by regional legislatures on the recommendation of the head of the state.

“We need a single organisation capable of not only dealing with terror attacks but also working to avert them, destroy criminals in their hideouts, and if necessary, abroad,” Putin said.

He named one of his closest confidants, cabinet chief of staff Dmitry Kozak, as his representative in the southern federal district, which oversees the Caucasus region.

Meanwhile, Chechen rebels claimed responsibility for the downing of a Russian military helicopter.

Two crew members were killed on Sunday when the Mi-24 helicopter went down south-west of the Chechen capital, Grozny.