Rally Offers Putin Support Over Hostage Bloodbath

[Rose Siding]

BESLAN, Russia (Reuters) - Russian state television predicted at least 100,000 people would attend a Moscow rally on Tuesday to denounce terrorism, bolstering President Vladimir Putin against critics over a Chechnya-linked hostage bloodbath.

The rally, just outside the Kremlin, takes place on a second day of national morning for 335 people -- half of them children -- killed in last week's school hostage crisis that ended in a fierce battle between Chechen rebels and Russian troops.

Television newscasts and slick advertisements featuring cultural or sports personalities provided wide promotion for the rally as opposition politicians accused Putin of failing to ensure security for ordinary Russians.
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Like some Western leaders, critics in Russia questioned Putin's stance that Russia was the victim of international terrorism rather than home grown Chechen militants.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6161445