President Putin (left) with Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov (file photo) (epa)
16 February 2006 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a national counterterrorism committee.
Putin signed a decree today which the Kremlin said was aimed at fine-tuning government regulation of the fight against terrorism.
The new committee will be headed by Nikolai Patrushev, the director of the Federal Security Service.
Putin also ordered the setting up of regional counterterrorism commissions that will coordinate the efforts of local authorities as they prevent and deal with terrorist actions.
(ITAR-TASS, Interfax)
RFE/RL Russia Report
RFE/RL Russia Report