Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday summoned his ministers of defence and emergency situations to Sochi where his special envoy to central Asia is to report on his tour around the region.
Vladimir Rushaylo, who is secretary of the Russian Security Council, has toured the former Soviet republics in central Asia since Monday to discuss their stance in the event of US retaliatory strikes on Afghanistan.
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan all have borders with Afghanistan, which is harboring the Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, prime suspect in the terror attacks in the United States.
Moscow is strongly opposed to the US army using former Soviet bases in central Asia.
Putin is holidaying in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in southern Russia, where he will be joined by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and Minister for Emergency Situations Sergei Shoygu -- MOSCOW (AFP)
