Russian Parliament Authorizes Use Of Commandos Abroad

Russian special forces troops conducting an antiterrorism exercise outside Moscow (file photo) (OSCE) July 7, 2006 -- Russian lawmakers today endorsed a President Vladimir Putin's request to allow him to send special forces abroad to hunt down terrorists.

The Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, approved the bill, clearing the way for Putin to sign it into law.

Putin has demanded the right in response to the murder last month of four Russian diplomats taken hostage by Iraqi insurgents. A fifth Russian was killed during the hostage taking itself.

Putin has ordered that the militants be hunted down and "eliminated," and security services have offered $10 million for information leading to their capture.

(Reuters, ITAR-TASS)

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