World under terror seige besides Pakistan: Putin

Moscow, Dec 28 (UNI) Expressing solidarity with the people of Pakistan over the killing of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hoped those responsible for the assassination will be found and punished.

''Forces of terrorism are throwing down a challenge not only to Pakistan, but to the entire international community,'' Mr Putin said in a telegram sent to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

''We hope that the organisers of this crime will be found and appropriately punished,'' he said.

''As I express our solidarity with the people of Pakistan, I would like to convey my sincere and deep condolences to friends and relatives of those killed and hope for a speedy recovery for those injured in the terrorist attack,'' the Kremlin press service quoted the Russian President as saying.

Mr Anatoly Safonov, the presidential special representative for international cooperation in combating trans-border crime and terrorism said Bhutto's assassination was an evidence of radicalisation of Islamic world.

''What happened yesterday is not only a terrorist attack but also another step in the radicalisation, which unfortunately is taking place, in the Islamic world,'' Mr Safonov told Interfax news agency.

He called Bhutto's assassination evidence of ''the radicalisation of sentiments, the radicalisation of the political struggle, the radicalisation of the society, the radicalisation of the explosive mixture of politics and religion.'' He also said the international community has not done enough to ensure the final defeat of the al Qaeda terrorist network.

''Al Qaeda cells are multiplying and expanding faster than they are being destroyed. The weeds of terrorism are growing today much faster than we are able to root them out,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the head of the Federation Council's senate committee for defence and security, Viktor Ozerov said international terrorism was behind the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

The senator said it was necessary to join efforts of all secret services, their actions on state-of-the-art technologies as well as financial and other support.

UNI