1000 terrorist training centres in Afghanistan: Russia

MOSCOW (NNI): The Russian defence minister has said that "threats coming from the North Caucasus and Central Asia" posed the main danger for Russia's security.

Terrorists are no more acting alone but "make up a well- armed, well-raised army with centralized control and powerful financing," Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev stressed.

Itar-Tass news agency quoted Mr Sargeyev as saying Afghanistan "where some 1,000 training centres and terrorist camps are operating, has become the international terrorist centre."

According to the minister, drug trafficking routes go from Afghanistan to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Europe. Sergeyev stressed that a decision had been reached to beef up Russian troops in the central Asian and south-western directions, including to stop the transit of drugs.