Georgian
pipeline blasts terror acts: Russian prosecutor
AFP
MOSCOW
Petroleumworld.com 01 26 06
The explosions that cut pipelines supplying gas from Russia to
Georgia and Armenia were acts of terror, the Russian prosecutor's
office said Wednesday.
The investigation into last Sunday's blasts initially centred
on what the prosecutor's office said was "premeditated destruction
of property" but was now focused on "terrorism"
and the illegal use of explosives, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
Another investigation was looking into an explosion that targeted
electricity cables crossing into Georgia.
The chief of Russia's energy grid UES meanwhile said the blasts
were masterminded by those seeking to worsen relations between
Russia and Georgia.
"The obvious political component of this new terrorist act
was necessary for those wanting to produce a quarrel between Russia
and Georgia, and what is sad, they got what they wanted. As a
result we have a significant worsening of relations," Anatoly
Chubais said as quoted by the Interfax news agency.
Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has accused Moscow of
organising the attacks. Russian authorities have so far announced
no arrests or other progress in the investigation.
The incident took place at the height of an unusually harsh winter
and also amid growing worries in Europe and along Russia's borders
about over-reliance on Gazprom, the Russian natural gas colossus
which controls a third of the world's reserves.
On Wednesday, Russian engineers were still trying to repair the
damage caused by the explosions to the pipeline to Georgia.
AFP
01/25/06
Copyright
© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
Send
this story to a friend
Your
feedback is important to us!
We invite all our readers to share with us
their views and comments about this article.
Write
to editor@petroleumworld.com
Any
question or suggestions, please write to:
editor@petroleumworld.com
Best
Viewed with IE
5.01+
Windows
NT 4.0, '95, '98 and ME +/ 800x600 pixels
| 
