Putin: United States doing all possible to avoid civilian casualties

By JUDITH INGRAM
Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that he was certain the United States was doing everything possible to avoid civilian losses in Afghanistan, and that terrorists would no longer be able to operate by leaning first on one center of power, then another.

In comments broadcast on Russian television, Putin said he had no doubt "that the U.S. president and leadership are doing everything in their power so that the population of Afghanistan does not suffer."

Putin was addressing key Russian Cabinet members who meet every Monday. Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov told the meeting that security had been stepped up around Russian embassies in several countries bordering Afghanistan, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

Putin said the U.S.-led attacks on Afghanistan were justified, considering the thousands of people who were killed when hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field.

"Such a colossal loss cannot pass unnoticed or go without an adequate response," he said.

He added that the terrorists had "provoked the leadership of the leading countries of the world to such a turn of events." But this time, he added, "the terrorists miscalculated."

Putin said that following the Sept. 11 attacks, humanity had "grown up," and that it would no longer be possible for terrorists to operate as they have before.

With the new anti-terrorism coalition, terrorists can no longer "maneuver between various centers of power ... leaning first on one, then on another ... That went on for many years."

He also said that Russia's position on actions under the anti-terrorism coalition remained unchanged.

Last week, Putin offered Russian airspace for humanitarian flights and pledged to provide Afghanistan's opposition forces battling the ruling Taliban militia with weapons and equipment. Russia has also sent its own humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees through Tajikistan.

Putin said the terrorists had amassed money over the past decade "based on the oil and drug trade."

"They have counted on modern civilization becoming flabby, sluggish, and losing its capacity for resistance," Putin said.

They "did not expect such a unity of humanity before the common enemy."

Security was beefed up at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow on Monday, with Russian riot police officers were stationed outside. Moscow police and the Russian Interior Ministry denied there was any special order to increase security, but an officer in the ministry press office said that "security at major vital facilities in Russia has been stepped up anyway.

The Russian government has allocated about $403,000 for humanitarian aid for Uzbekistan, the Interfax news agency reported, citing First Deputy Emergency Situations Minister Yuri Vorobyov. He said that Moscow had already sent more than 130 tons of food, tents, clothes and blankets to northern Afghanistan.

AP-WS-10-08-01 1115EDT