Terrorists let go 17 Russian hostages after checking passport

Moscow, Nov 28 (PTI) Terrorists holed up inside Mumbai's
Taj and Trident-Oberoi hotels allowed 17 Russian hostages,
including nine defence contractors, to leave after checking
their passports, following which they were safely evacuated.

Earlier Thursday, spokesman of Russian arms exporting
company 'Rosoboronexport' had confirmed that nine of its
specialists working on various defence projects in India were
safely evacuated from the Taj hotel.

According to the 'Kommersant' daily, eight crew members
of Russian Aeroflot airlines dining in the restaurant of
Trident-Oberoi were also "politely asked" to follow the hotel
staff, who guided them to safety outside the hotel.

"Two airhostesses, who wanted to go to bed early, had
returned to their rooms in Trident hotel and could not be
evacuated," an Aeroflot official in Mumbai was quoted as
saying by the daily.

However, the Vesti TV channel added that both the
airhostesses trapped in the Trident-Oberoi were rescued this
morning by the security personnel.

In its article 'Terrorists Slam the Gateway of India'
Kommersant notes that terrorists especially targeted US and UK
citizens and said that the attacks were a clear sign of
al-Qaeda involvement.

"In the past the Indian leadership had also said about
the alleged involvement of al-Qaeda but this time it is clear
that it has shifted its war against America outside the
territories of Iraq and Afghanistan," 'Kommersant writes. PTI