Warlord claims security services opened way for Beslan attackers

Radical Chechen warlord Shamil Basayev today claimed in an internet posting that Russian security services bore responsibility for last year’s bloody Beslan school siege by allegedly providing the attackers a safe corridor through the region in an attempt to trap them.

In the statement, posted on the KavkazCentre web site today, Basayev said a Russian double agent had been among the hostage-takers. He also claimed a second attacker had survived the three-day siege and was now with Basayev’s men and prepared to testify.