Russia proposes anti-terror law

Russia proposes anti-terror law

MOSCOW – Russia’s parliament drafted proposals for an anti-terrorism law on Monday, the day it began an inquiry into the Beslan school siege that killed more than 320 hostages, half of them children.

Russia has tightened security after a spate of attacks which Chechen rebels say they carried out, including the Beslan tragedy, and has vowed pre-emptive strikes on “terrorist bases” anywhere. “We believe it is necessary to prepare and adopt a federal anti-terrorism law, because existing legislation doesn’t fully enable us to solve those tasks arising from the situation in the country,” upper house speaker Sergei Mironov said after a meeting of the chamber.The Federation Council upper house called for a law that would deal out tougher punishments for people who collude with terrorists – by financing them or by helping them through professional negligence.The document, approved in principle, will be examined again next week.All legislation must be approved by the State Duma lower house and signed into law by president Vladimir Putin.Last week, Putin announced a shake-up of the electoral system to boost Kremlin power, saying the changes were needed to beat terrorism.The chaotic end to the 53-hour siege prompted questions about the competence of the security services.Opinion polls showed people blamed corrupt police for failing to prevent the attack in the first place.Analysts have doubted the value of an investigation carried out by a body that is unelected and has little power.The Duma, where elected deputies sit, plans to conduct its own probe.- Nampa-Reuters”We believe it is necessary to prepare and adopt a federal anti-terrorism law, because existing legislation doesn’t fully enable us to solve those tasks arising from the situation in the country,” upper house speaker Sergei Mironov said after a meeting of the chamber.The Federation Council upper house called for a law that would deal out tougher punishments for people who collude with terrorists – by financing them or by helping them through professional negligence.The document, approved in principle, will be examined again next week.All legislation must be approved by the State Duma lower house and signed into law by president Vladimir Putin.Last week, Putin announced a shake-up of the electoral system to boost Kremlin power, saying the changes were needed to beat terrorism.The chaotic end to the 53-hour siege prompted questions about the competence of the security services.Opinion polls showed people blamed corrupt police for failing to prevent the attack in the first place.Analysts have doubted the value of an investigation carried out by a body that is unelected and has little power.The Duma, where elected deputies sit, plans to conduct its own probe.- Nampa-Reuters

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