Chechen Warlord Says He Was Behind Attacks

A rebel warlord said his men were behind last week’s suicide blasts in Chechnya that killed more than 70 people. The attacks signaled a new upsurge in rebel activity in the mainly Muslim breakaway republic, dealing a setback to Moscow’s plans to end a decade of conflict.

“By the grace of Allah, moujahedeen fighters from our suicide ... brigade carried out two successful operations against the Russian occupiers and their local lackeys,” Shamil Basayev said in a statement on the rebels’ Web site. He said the blasts were “a tiny part” of a new campaign.