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CIS counter-terrorist drills final stage to take place in Kyrgyzstan’s Kant

Units of Kyrgyzstan’s national security committee and Russia’s Defense Ministry will master efforts to free hostages and neutralize terrorists on transport

BISHKEK, September 26 (Itar-Tass) - The final stage of the joint antiterrorist exercise of special assignment units from the Commonwealth of Independent States codenamed Ala-Too Anti-Terror 2013 will take place at the Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan’s Kant.

Units of Kyrgyzstan’s national security committee and Russia’s Defense Ministry will master efforts to free hostages and neutralize terrorists on transport and in crowded places.

“The antiterror exercise is conducted in compliance with the program for cooperation among CIS member-states in counteracting terrorism and other violent manifestations of extremism,” a spokesman for the Kyrgyz national security committee told Itar-Tass.

The first stage of the exercise took place in Kyrgyzstan on September 4-13 and engaged chiefs of counter-terrorist units from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Ukraine.

“The maneuvers held in Kyrgyzstan were aimed at strengthening the fight against terrorism in the CIS member-states, where it poses a serious threat to the society,” national security committee Chief Busurmankul Tabaldiyev said. “Armed terrorist groups not only stage solo acts of terror, but also participate in large-scale military activity. They rank among international criminal units trafficking arms and drugs. Therefore in modern times the fight against this evil depends on interaction among security services from different countries.”

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