White House says Moscow siege reminder of risks of terrorism

From Kelly Wallace
CNN

Moscovites light candles for victims of the theater siege during a religious service Saturday.

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LOS CABOS, Mexico (CNN) -- The White House called the siege by Chechen rebels in Moscow which ended this morning when Russian troops stormed a theater, a "reminder about risks to the free world that terrorists present."

"As a result of terrorism, innocent lives have been lost and the president abhors the violence created by terrorists," Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary, told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Mexico.

Russian forces ended the 58-hour standoff early Saturday when they stormed the building where Chechen rebels had held about 800 hostages for three days.

At least 90 hostages died either before, after or during the operation, the Russian Health Ministry said. As many as 50 of the Chechen captors were also killed, officials said.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said the incident shows that "terrorism can strike anywhere and we have to be on guard."

"There's no country that is immune, there is no country that is not a potential victim of terrorism, and that is why it has to be an international crusade of the kind that President Bush launched after 9/11 and is now leading," Powell said.

U.S. officials say they are still looking into the fate of two Americans who were believed to have been inside the theater.

Powell would not comment on the military and police operation, saying he did not know the details.

"I am glad the crisis has been resolved, but at the same time, I regret the loss of innocent life," he added.

"People are generally relieved we have 700+ people that are alive and you are always very sad and regret the loss of life of these innocents," a senior administration official, who did not want to be identified, told CNN.

The president has not yet spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin since Russian security forces raided the Moscow theater, Fleischer said.

President Bush is in Los Cabos for the annual meeting of the 21 leaders from Asian-Pacific nations. The president had planned to have lunch with Putin during the gathering, but the Russian leader canceled his trip due to the Moscow standoff.

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