The Foreign Ministry on 12 March issued a statement saying that it is closely monitoring global reaction to the 8 March slaying of Chechen resistance leader Aslan Maskhadov. The ministry statement said that Maskhadov was \"a figure of the same type\" as radical field commander Shamil Basaev. The statement said that the \"liquidation of Maskhadov\" has activated the enemies of normalization in the Chechen Republic, including \"emissaries and abettors of terrorism who at present are abroad and using the information tribunes of a number of foreign governments.\" The ministry criticized unspecified foreign media outlets for transmitting terrorist \"threats\" that are aimed at creating nervousness in Russia and \"sowing in the population a feeling of defenselessness and fear.\" The ministry called on foreigners to avoid \"double standards.\" \"In words, many come out for an active struggle against international terrorism, while the liquidation of one of the most odious international terrorists is greeted by expressions of regret,\" the statement read. (lenta.ru)