Al-Qaeda redirects to new regions - Russian defense minister

BRUSSELS, June 9 (RIA Novosti) - Al-Qaeda has redirected its terrorist activities to new regions, above all, Southeast Asia, Northeast Africa, Latin America and Central Asia, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said at a session of the Russia-NATO Council. Tensions in regional conflict zones may lead to further escalation of terrorism, he said. "One of the hardest international problems, is undoubtedly, connected with the tensions in regional conflict zones which pose the threat of Islamic radicalism and terrorism escalation," Ivanov said. According to him, Russia gives a positive assessment of the implementation of the anti-terrorism plan of actions of the Russia-NATO Council. Recent developments have confirmed that joint efforts of all the Council's structures are needed for proactive fight against terrorism, he added.