Terror attacks declines in Russia : FSB chief

Moscow, Feb 13 (UNI) The number of terror attacks in Russia significantly declined last year, due to highly effective and stringent anti-terror measures taken by the Russian federal authorities, chief of the Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) General Nikolai Patrushev said today.

''Terror attacks have reduced effectively by half in 2006 due to counter-terror measures taken by the federal authorities,'' the General said while opening the meeting of Russia's National Counter-Terrorism Committee.

''Systems of control over criminal groups have been disrupted and serious damage has been done to their leadership as a result of special operations,'' he said. General Patrushev also heads the National Counter-Terrorism Committee.

He said a total of 120 bandits and international terrorist organizations' emissaries, including 35 ring-leaders were killed or arrested in the country last year, adding 900 people were convicted for committing crimes linked to terrorism and extremism.

The General said more than 300 terror attacks were prevented last year and 546 militants surrendered before the police during an amnesty that ended January 15.

He pointed out that although the second war in Chechnya officially ended in 2001, which together with the first left up to 100,000 Chechens dead, periodic bombings and clashes between gunmen and federal troops still disrupt the Caucasus republic's comparative calm, with the violence often spilling over into adjacent regions.

UNI