Asia-Pacific

Russian president vows to eliminate airport attackers

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-25 20:53

MOSCOW - The attackers behind Monday's deadly blast at Domodedovo airport must be eliminated, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday.

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"It is necessary to do everything possible to reveal, unmask and bring those responsible for the crime to justice. The nests of these terrorists must be destroyed," the president was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

Meanwhile, he urged the country's secret service to invest maximum efforts to counter terrorism and extremism.

"The majority of the threats we talk about the last year, remain. These threats cannot disappear in a year as they have a prolonged nature," he told a meeting with the Federal Security Service (FSB).

He urged the special service to pay special attention to the young people who could be easy prey for those provoking hatred, xenophobia and violence.

Medvedev highlighted the need to secure safety during the APEC summit, the World Students Games and the Winter Olympics, due in 2012 in Vladivostok, in 2013 in Kazan and in 2014 in Sochi, respectively.

"All sorts of criminals have been getting prepared for these events too," Medvedev warned, adding that upcoming general elections in Russia might also be a target for terrorists.

A suicide bombing killed 35 and injured over 100 at Moscow's busiest airport Monday. It was the second deadly attack in the Russian capital within a year.