.bmp)
.bmp)
NAZRAN, Russia-Russia thought it had tamed the Muslim regions on its southern flank when it quelled a rebellion in Chechnya, but trouble is brewing again. Barely noticed by the outside world, increasing violence and clashes between federal forces and rebels in Ingushetia, just west of Chechnya, threaten to destabilize the north Caucasus.Ninety-three people were killed in clashes in the year to the end of August, the local branch of human rights group Memorial says-a big death toll for a region with a population of only 470,000.Gunshots ring out at night in Nazran, the biggest town, and bomb attacks, murders and kidnappings are part of daily life.In a busy public building, a policeman waited until his colleague was out of earshot before giving his views on what was happening in the region."The presidency doesn't work, the ministries don't work and the government doesn't work," he said, speaking softly. "There were more dead yesterday. What will happen today?" Three men had been killed by unknown gunmen and two soldiers wounded by a grenade attack on the interior ministry. Russian officials blame the violence on groups of armed men, many driven by Islamist ideas, who they say have tried to overthrow Moscow's rule since 2002.To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah....
