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U.S. orchestrating conflict: Putin

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the U.S. of orchestrating the military conflict in the Caucasus to boost the chances of one candidate in the U.S. presidential race.

'The suspicion arises that someone in the United States specially created this conflict with the aim of adding drama to the campaign and giving an edge to one of the candidates for President of the United States,' said Mr. Putin in an interview to CNN posted on the Russian government website on Friday.

Mr. Putin did not specify the candidate, but a Kremlin-connected political scientist earlier said Vice-President Dick Cheney had masterminded Georgia's attack on its breakaway territory of South Ossetia to boost the popularity of Republican candidate John McCain. After the conflict broke out, Mr. McCain overtook his Democratic rival Barack Obama in popularity by taking a hard line on the 'Russian invasion of Georgia.' Mr. Cheney will visit Georgia next week.

Mr. Putin also said he had 'serious reasons' to believe that U.S. citizens had been among Georgian troops fighting Russian forces in South Ossetia. America 'wanted a small victorious war' to distract attention from its setbacks in Iraq and Afghanistan and economic problems at home, he stated. The Russian leader said it was 'highly unlikely' that the U.S., which had armed and trained the Georgian army, 'had no knowledge' of Tbilisi's plans to attack South Ossetia.

'Those who pursue this policy towards Russia, what do they think - they will love us dead?' Mr. Putin asked ironically.

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