Saturday, December 28, 2002 Posted: 1127 GMT

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Terrorist acts targeting Grozny are being financed by unnamed Arab countries, Moscow's leading anti-espionage agent says.

The head of the anti-terrorist branch for the northern Caucuses, Col. Ilya Shabalkin, said orders were coming from a well-known rebel, Shamil Basayev, and a representative of the "Muslim Brotherhood" -- Abu Al Walid , CNN's Jill Dougherty reported.

Military intelligence, he says, recently learned that Abu Al Walid was ordering a series of terrorists attacks on Grozny. The attacks are being financed by several Arab countries, which were not named.

The comments come as Russian officials revised the death toll in the twin bomb attacks on a pro-Moscow government building in the Chechnya capital downwards to 40. The number of injured in Friday's suicide attacks has jumped to 152.

Chechen rebels have denied responsibility for the violence and condemned the use of suicide bombers. A rebel group in London has said on its Web site that Chechens do not use suicide tactics.

But Dougherty added: "We have a number of groups working in Chechnya...with some linked to al Qaeda, and some splinter groups. So it is difficult in some cases to say who is taking responsibility."

Remainder

-- Anonymous, December 28, 2002