(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2008-05-10 09:16

MOSCOW: President Dmitry Medvedev warned on Friday against "irresponsible ambitions" that lead to war as tanks and missile launchers rumbled through Red Square in a show of Russian firepower not seen since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Russian truck-mounted Topol inter-continental ballistic missiles roll through Red Square in Moscow on Friday as part of a Victory Day parade. The parade was the first since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. [Agencies]

Medvedev, in his first major public event since being sworn into office, told 8,000 parade troops and guests at a ceremony to mark the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany that Russia would not tolerate "disrespect for international law".

"We must treat very seriously any attempt to sow racial or religious enmity, foment the ideology of terror and extremism or meddle in other states' affairs, especially by redrawing borders," Medvedev said.

War veterans with their chests full of medals applauded, some with tears in their eyes, as supersonic fighter jets and bombers screamed overhead in formation and impeccably uniformed, goose-stepping honor guards saluted the Russian flag.

Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov rode past the massed ranks of troops in a silver open-top Soviet Zil limousine to take their salute, barking congratulations to each group in turn on the 63rd anniversary of Russia's World War II victory, which cost more than 20 million lives.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, at times looking emotional, sat next to Medvedev on a viewing platform listening to martial music from a brass band and watching the parading troops, but did not speak.

It was Putin who as president ordered the revival of the Soviet tradition of parading military hardware through Red Square on Victory Day for the first time since 1990. Medvedev succeeded Putin as president on Wednesday.

Opinion polls showed the decision was popular with most Russians, who hail Putin for restoring some of Russia's greatness and power after the chaos, which followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

Despite the cost and worries about damage to historical monuments such as St Basil's Cathedral, the veterans were particularly proud to see tanks, anti-aircraft missiles and nuclear missile launchers back in Red Square.