Putin said the attack appeared aimed at sowing discord before next month's presidential election, and warned he would not negotiate.

"Russia doesn't conduct negotiations with terrorists -- it destroys them," Putin said.

It was unclear whether the blast was the work of a suicide bomber or someone who merely placed a device on the train as it left Avtozavodskaya Station and headed for the busy Paveletskaya stop.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Chechen insurgents are blamed for a series of suicide bombings in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia. The blast came only three weeks after one of Chechnya's most feared warlords threatened fresh strikes in Russia.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 14, 2004
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