Saudis pleased by commandos' performance in hijack drama
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Monday, March 19, 2001
NICOSIA — Saudi leaders are pleased by the performance of their
commandos in ending a hostage standoff with Chechen hijackers.
Officials said Saudi commandos conducted a clean operation in freeing
more than 100 hostages trapped on a Russian airliner commandeered by Chechen
separatists. Three people were killed in the operation, which Saudi sources
said lasted three minutes.
Three of the suspected hijackers were captured.
"A unit of the Saudi anti-terrorist force raided the plane, freed the
hostages and arrested the three hijackers in a quick operation," a Saudi
Interior Ministry spokesman said.
Saudi sources said the commando operation was approved by Russian
officials in Moscow. The Saudi unit was comprised of more than 30 commandos
in full battle gear, semi-automatic rifles and bullet proof vests. The
commandos were supported by two Saudi air force cargo planes and four
armored personnel carriers.
The sources said Riyad rejected a request by Russia to fly a commando
force to retake the plane. They said the Saudi force was not helped by any
foreigners.
At the same time, Saudi authorities are investigating another bombing
that
rocked the capital Riyad that left foreigners injured. The attack took
place in a building that houses the London-based Al Hayat newspaper office.
Monday, March 19, 2001
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