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'Chechens would never lay down their arms'

MOSCOW: Chechnya's President Aslan Mashadov has promised Russian forces a "regular war," ruling out terrorist attacks but stressing in an interview with Moscow Echo Radio on Friday that Chechens would never lay down their arms.

"We will wage a regular war" against the Russians, Maskhadov declared, rejecting unbacked accusations by Moscow that Chechens were implicated in bombings that killed 293 people in Russia in August and September.

Rejecting acts of terrorism, Maskhadov said: "I do not want the war to move beyond the borders of Chechnya".

But he added: "Since the international community cannot stop Russia, it is upto us to fight on".

Meanwhile, security forces in Moscow were placed on a state of alert to prevent possible terrorist attacks, police spokesman Vladimir Vershkov told RTR television station.

Security measures would be stepped up in the subway system, residential zones and public places in the Russian capital, he said, with policemen on duty 12 hours a day. AFP