(Vatican Radio) Russia says it has launched one of the biggest security operations
in Olympic history, after two suicide attacks killed dozens of people. The announcement
comes a month before the start of the Winter Olympic Games in the Black Sea resort
of Sochi.
Russian authorities say they are deploying more than 30,000 police
and interior ministry troops and limiting access to the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Yet,
protecting the expected thousands of athletes and spectators at a time of suicide
bombings in the country has become a major challenge, officials acknowledged.
In
a statement, the Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said that from 7 January,
all divisions responsible for ensuring the guests' security at the Games "are being
put on combat alert."
VOLGOGRAD ATTACKS He added: "Every facility
will be put under protection and a space-based monitoring system will be launched."
The
decision comes after two suicide bomb attacks killed 34 people in the southern city
of Volgograd on 29 and 30 December.
Chechen warlord Doku Umarov, who wants
to establish an Islamic state, had urged his fighters to disrupt the Olympic Games
with all means possible.
Russian security measures are closely watched
by the United States, from where some 250 athletes are competing, explained State
Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf.
"People should also be reminded that
threats have been made against the Olympic Games and acts of terrorism, including
bombings, continue to occur in Russia," Harf said.
VIGILANCE URGED "So
obviously this is an exciting, positive, happy international sporting event, but people
going there do need to maintain vigilance and watch out for their own security and
safety," she added.
International concerns remain that ongoing anti-Kremlin
insurgency in the Northern Caucasus could affect the Sochi Winter Games, which open
on 7 February, followed by the Paralympics.
Last year, Russian authorities
used security concerns to announce that protest rallies would be banned in the Games
area.
But after pressure from campaign groups, a recent decree says protests
during the Games can be held, if agreed with local authorities.