Arab Mercenaries Identified among Hostage-Takers

[seemslikeadream]

Politics: 3 September 2004, Friday.

Nine gunmen killed in the hostage standoff in the North Ossetian town of Beslan on Friday were mercenaries from Arab countries, according to Russian presidential advisor Aslanbek Aslakhanov.

A Federal Security Service (FSB) official confirmed that ten militants killed by Russian troops are Arab mercenaries.

A hostage who escaped the school sadi that the militants numbered 28, including women wearing camouflage uniforms.

Besides the hundreds of victims feared in the aftermath of the hostage crisis, there were nearly hundred fatalities from the Russian special forces.

more
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=38834

[bemildred]

1. Mercenaries? nt

[Yupster]

2. jihadis?

what's the right name?

Doesn't seem like they kill for money.

[bemildred]

5. Jihadis, terrorists, what have you.

This doesn't seem like a job, somehow.

[foo_bar]

8. it's a job, but it's not a living

[seemslikeadream]

3. Arab Mercenary Terrorists financed by al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda may have financed Russia school raid
Reuters
Posted online: Friday, September 03, 2004 at 2031 hours IST

Moscow, September 3: The mass hostage-taking at a Russian school was led by a senior Chechen rebel commander and possibly financed by al-Qaeda, Itar-Tass news agency quoted sources in the regional security service as saying.

The sources said that according to early information, Chechen commander Magomet Yevloyev led the seizure of hundreds of children and adults in the school in the province of North Ossetia which ended in bloodshed on Friday.

They said the operation had been planned by Shamil Basayev, Russia's most wanted Chechen rebel, who has been behind several major attacks outside Chechnya.

Russian officials say rebels fighting for the region's independence from Moscow are under strong influence from Wahhabism, a strict form of Sunni Islam.
more
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=35781


We stand by Russia: US

Reuters
Posted online: Friday, September 03, 2004 at 2004 hours IST

Washington, September 3: The White House on Friday condemned the "barbaric" taking of hostages at a school in Russia and blamed "the terrorists" for the loss of life after Russian troops stormed the compound to free the parents, teachers and children.

"There is no justification for the taking of innocent life, and the barbaric nature of this terrorist act is despicable," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.

"The responsibility for the tragic loss of life rests with the terrorists," McClellan said, adding: "The United States stands side by side with Russia in our global fight against terrorism."

A hundred or more people were killed when Russian troops stormed the school to free the hostages, who had been held captive for 53 hours by Chechen separatists.
more
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=35780


4 times Scotty?

[sattahipdeep]

4. paid killers r mercenaries?

murderers.

[agincourt]

6. Once again,

Wahabbi influence, no iraqis, smack the gum like a whore and just do as Bush says.

[Aidoneus]

7. "everybody's dead, nobody can say otherwise, SO..."

"let's start making shit up! Whee!"

You'd think one of the 'let-gos' would have mentioned it by now. Early witnesses and among the dozens that were set free on multiple occasions all reported hearing Caucasian languages spoken and they all spoke fluent Russian. I didn't notice the "oh by the way, and half of them are Arabs" witness report. I think that would've stood out for a variety of reasons.

Interesting note at the end of this report, though. I think this is the first to mention seriously heavy casualties among the "special forces" in storming the place. That I would actually believe.