Chechen Fighters Offer Bounty For Putin

Radical Chechen leader Shamil Basaev (file photo) 9 September 2004 -- Chechen fighters promised today to give $20 million to anyone helping them capture Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Yesterday, the Russian government offered $10 million for information that would help track down the two main Chechen leaders, Aslan Maskhadov and Shamil Basaev.

A statement on Chechen resistance websites says the award is offered to countries, organizations, or individuals who help the "Chechen Republic" in detaining "the war criminal Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin."

Maskhadov has denied involvement in the hostage taking. Basaev has not yet commented, but experts say the attack showed signs of his leadership.

(Reuters)