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Putin praises Russian spies for war against terror
MOSCOW, Dec 20 (Reuters) - President and former spy Vladimir Putin praised Russia's intelligence services on Thursday for striking what he said was the first blow against international terrorism, an apparent reference to the campaign in Chechnya.
Speaking on a day honouring the security services, the former KGB agent and ex-head of the post-Soviet FSB domestic security service, said Russia had been the first to confront terrorism on a large scale.
"Our actions were the first serious strike on international terrorism -- terrorism in its new form," he said in remarks broadcast on Russian television.
Putin and other Russian officials have been quick to link Moscow's military campaign in mainly Muslim rebel Chechnya to the U.S.-led war on international terrorism. The FSB runs Russia's operations in Chechnya.
The Russian president, the Russian leader from the intelligence service, was the first foreign president to offer support to U.S. President George W. Bush after the September 11 hijack attacks on the United States.
"We know from our own experience that the war on terrorism is hard and severe and each step demands a very high price," Putin said.
Putin called for a minute's silence to commemorate all those in the intelligence services who had died in the line of duty.
Interfax also quoted him as saying that the public has the right to know about the work of the security services.
Since Soviet times, Russians have viewed professional spies as one of the few institutions above the corruption that was often inherent in high-ranking office.
But a straw poll conducted by Ekho Moskvy radio station on Thursday showed that 72 percent of Russians would not like to work for the special services.
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