MOSCOW WARNS WEST AGAINST DOUBLE STANDARD…

Foreign Ministry spokesman Grigory Karasin yesterday implicitly described the military operation against Chechen hostage-takers in Dagestan as part of the battle against international terrorism. Reflecting Moscow’s frustration over foreign criticism of the brutal military action, he warned that indecision on terrorism by the world community could have tragic consequences. "Terrorism is an evil which threatens all countries… there must be no double standard" in the fight against it, he was quoted as saying. Karasin characterized actions against the Chechen rebels as an internal Russian affair and rejected counsel from abroad as interference.

…While United States Gives Conflicting Signals.