RUSSIA DEMANDS THAT UK NOT BROADCAST BASAYEV'S INTERVIEW

MOSCOW, February 3 (RIA Novosti) - Russia demands that the British authorities not broadcast an interview with Shamil Basayev, a Chechen terrorist and murderer, on TV, the Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the intention of a British TV channel.

"Moscow has an extremely negative opinion on the Fourth Channel of the British Television planning to broadcast an interview with the notorious terrorist and butcher Shamil Basayev. We believe this is another case of informational support for terrorists acting in the North Caucasus," the Foreign Ministry stated.

"We are sure that this irresponsible act, spreading views and ideas of the criminal, who is on the wanted list of Interpol and the UN SC Anti-Terror Committee, over wide audience, contradicts the World Community's efforts against terrorism," the Russian Foreign Ministry asserted.

The Russian Embassy in the UK has called on the British authorities to refrain from televising the interview, the Russian foreign office reported.