Russia backs global terror force

The State Duma passed a resolution calling for "international structures" to fight terrorism

MOSCOW, Russia -- Russia's lower house of parliament has proposed the creation of a global body to fight "international terrorism."

Members of the State Duma also backed stronger national moves to crack down on rebels in Chechnya when they met on Thursday.

A parliamentary resolution said: "The Duma believes it is vital to quickly unite the efforts of all states to root out international terrorism...primarily (by) creating international structures (to combat) any attempt to prepare or carry out a terrorist act or provide financial backing for it."

It added: "The Duma highlights the need for organs of state power to take decisive measures to protect Russian citizens from terrorism (and) cut off external support for terrorist groups acting in Chechnya."

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The Duma voted 345-8 in favour of the proposals.

The result mirrors the stance taken by President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian ministers in the wake of the terror attacks on the U.S. on September 11.

Putin has said: "Evil should be punished, but we should not put ourselves on the level of bandits who act surreptitiously, we must operate on reliable facts".

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said "One cannot rule out any measures, including force, when fighting terrorism."

Putin has also said that Russia's fight in Chechnya is part of the same worldwide phenomenon that was behind the attacks in New York and Washington.

Unlike some of the leading members of the European Union, Russia and its ex-Soviet neighbours have not committed themselves to any military cooperation with the U.S. if it strikes Afghanistan, which Washington says is shielding its prime suspect for the attacks, Osama bin Laden.