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Anti-terrorist exercise held in Moscow

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MOSCOW, March 9 (RIA Novosti) - Police in southern Moscow held an exercise Thursday to train officers in operations to free hostages held in a building seized by terrorists.

With memories still fresh of hostage-taking crises such as the 2002 theatre siege, police had to conduct an operation after a group of "militants" disarmed security guards at a municipal facility, blocked entrances into the building and took "hostages" inside. The leader called the police and demanded the release of imprisoned members of militant groups.

After police demands to release the hostages and surrender were rejected, a decision was made to storm the building and special task forces and aircraft were called in for the purpose. A group of officers landed on the roof of the building from a helicopter, and another group crept up to the building.

It took police no more than five minutes to free the hostages. A few terrorists were "killed", and the others were seized. None of the hostages was injured.

Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev praised the skills of police officers. "I think the officers that participated in the exercise acted effectively and were highly skilled," he said.

His deputy, Major General Mikhail Sukhodolsky, told journalists that providing special task police forces with new arms and equipment was a priority and that more than $65 million had been earmarked from the federal budget for the purpose.

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