Russian envoy calls for joint fight against terror

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia and Russia, the latest victims of terrorist attacks, must join hands with the international community to fight terrorism, a Russian diplomat said on Monday in Jakarta.

"The attack in Jakarta is another confirmation of the great necessity to join efforts of all countries in combating terrorism. This menace must be confronted by the united efforts of all nations," Kirill Barsky, the Russian Federation's new Charge d'Affaires in Jakarta, told reporters.

Barsky, who assumed his post in July, said the two countries could exchange intelligence on terrorist groups, which were believed to have a global network.

"Just look at places they (terrorists) choose to attack. They usually attack countries which are on the frontline in the war on terror," he said.

Last week's explosion outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta that killed nine and injured over 180 came just six days after a fatal hostage-taking at a school in Beslan, Russia, that left 339 people dead, including some 150 schoolchildren.

The two attacks, said Barsky, had similarities, and were aimed at destabilizing nations where elections were just concluded or were to be held soon.

Beslan's tragedy came only three days after Alu Alkhanov won the presidency of Chechnya on Aug. 29, while the bomb in Jakarta came only two weeks before the Sept. 20 election runoff.

Barsky added the attack was launched just outside the embassy of Australia, which will also hold its national election on Oct. 9.

The international community, including the Russian government, expressed their condolences and sympathies to the victims of the Jakarta blast and condemned the attack.

Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush paid tribute on Sunday to the young victims of the school siege in Russia, denouncing the cruelty of the hostage-takers as "beyond comprehension" and promising to work in concert with Russia to combat terrorism, Reuters reported from Washington.

With his wife at his side, Bush made a surprise visit to the Russian Embassy in Washington to sign a "book of condolences" for the hundreds of victims.

He expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and declared: "The United States stands side by side with Russia as we fight off terrorism ... We stand shoulder to shoulder."

"Many in America and, I know, many in Russia, simply cannot conceive the hearts of a person that would mow down innocent children," Bush said.