Chechen terrorist planned to seize parliament's building in Moscow

Chechen terrorist Shamil Basayev planned to seize the building of the State Duma (the lower house of parliament). This follows from the testimony of Aslanbek Khaskhanov detained in Ingushetia on the case of the seizure of hostages last October in the Dubrovka theatre centre, reported the Moscow prosecutor, Mikhail Avdyukov.

Khaskhanov said during interrogations that Basayev ordered him to perpetrate four major acts of terror in Moscow "with explosions in densely populated places" as part of a "frightening action", which should have been completed by the largest militants' action. Khaskhanov did not know exactly what was the aim of this action but supposed that it could be connected with the seizure of the State Duma," Avdyukov said as he cited Khaskhanov's testimony.

In an interview with Rossiiskaya Gazeta published on Friday, the prosecutor reported that Khaskhanov organised the explosion near the MacDonalds restaurant in Moscow and prepared a number of other acts of terror.

According to Avdyukov, it was established during the investigation that the "main terrorist" of Nord-Ost, Abu-Bakar (he also had the name of Ruslan Elmursayev) was killed by the Alfa special units during the operation to liberate hostages.

"His body was identified among the militants killed at the scene," Avdyukov added.

The fact that the assignment to organise the acts of terror in Moscow was given by Basayev, gives grounds for accusing him of organising the act of terror in Dubrovka, the prosecutor pointed out.

As a result of the act of terror perpetrated in Dubrovka 129 people died and more than 700 received traumas of various degrees. The special task forces eliminated 41 militants.