Rebel leader vows year of 'blood and tears' in Russia

MOSCOW: Russia's leading Islamist rebel has vowed to make 2011 "a year of blood and tears" in a chilling video message released two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 36 people at a Moscow airport.

In the video released late Friday, Doku Umarov, the leader of a deadly insurgency over Russian control of the North Caucasus region, said rebel attacks in the country's heartland are meant as a wake-up call for ordinary Russians, who should urge their leaders to withdraw from the region.

The video marked Umarov's first known public statement since the late January attack -- Moscow's second suicide bombing with heavy casualties in less than a year.

Though he did not claim responsibility for the Domodedovo attack outright, Umarov made reference to a "special operation" and suicide bombings.

"God willing we will make this year a year of blood and tears for you," the fatigues-clad Umarov said in the address posted on the Kavkaz Centre website, a known rebel mouthpiece.

He said attacks were a response to "lawlessness" unleashed on the region by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and "his pack of dogs."

The website said it received the video address by email and it was not clear whether it was recorded before or after the airport attack.

In the video, Umarov is flanked by two camouflage-clad men who are shown against a black flag emblazoned with white Arabic script.

Umarov said he made the address on the eve of a special operation whose purpose he did not identify. To his left stood a young man tasked with carrying out that operation and identified as Seifullah.

Another, older man identified as the head of the suicide bombing "brigade," was shown on the rebel chief's right-hand side.

Security officials have said that the Domodedovo airport bombing attack was carried out by a 20-year-old native of one of the North Caucasus republics.

Umarov is the self-proclaimed leader of the so-called "Caucasus Emirate", which has sought to unite various Islamist groups in Russia's North Caucasus and establish Sharia rule in the region.