Chechen terror leader offers peace for independence

Radical Chechen rebel leader Shamil Basayev purportedly took responsibility today for a recent series of deadly terrorist attacks in Russia, but put the ultimate blame for the massacre of more than 330 people held hostage in a school on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a letter posted today on the Kavkaz-Centre website, Basayev said he had sent a letter to Putin proposing ”independence (for Chechnya) in exchange for security”.