Russian President Vladimir Putin has forcefully ruled out any negotiations with Chechen separatists following the deaths of more than 350 people in a hostage-taking crisis in southern Russia, The Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday. He also ruled out late Monday a public inquiry into the disaster during a lengthy meeting with foreign journalists and academics at his country home outside Moscow. While ruling out a public inquiry, Putin said there would be an internal review. "I want to establish the chronicle of events and find out who is responsible and might be punished," he was quoted as saying. Putin said Russian forces had been involved in human rights violations, but these were not his policy. "In war there are ugly processes which have their own logic," he said, and denied any connection between Russian policy and the tragedy at the school. He insisted that Chechnya was a vital part of Russian territory, and that his government would pursue a political solution. "We will strengthen law enforcement by staffing the police with Chechens, and gradually withdraw our troops to barracks, and leave as small a contingent as we feel necessary, just like the U.S. does in California and Texas," he was quoted as saying.
