INTERIOR MINISTER PROMISES TIGHTER SECURITY ON RUSSIA’S SOUTHERN BORDER.

After touring the Northern Caucasian republics of North Ossetia and Dagestan, Interior Minister Anatoly Kulikov has promised to step up security along Russia’s southern border. Responding to complaints by Dagestan’s leaders about frequent incursions by armed gangs from neighboring Chechnya, Kulikov said the border between Chechnya and Dagestan will be reinforced by additional Interior Ministry troops and local police units. (Itar-Tass, February 24-25)

No News on Italian Abducted in Chechnya.